Jim Harbaugh's desire to return to the NCAA and coach at the University of Michigan is apparently growing, with the most recent rumor stating that his inner circle is pushing the current head coach of the San Francisco 49ers to return to take over the top spot at his alma mater.
According to NFL Insider Adam Schefter, those closest to Harbaugh have been "encouraging" him to take the job, but the normally emotionless Harbaugh is "torn."
"49ers HC Jim Harbaugh's family and friends have been encouraging him to take the Michigan HC job, but he is torn because his heart is in the NFL, per sources close to the situation," Schefter wrote.
Harbaugh is also apparently interested in seeing what other NFL opportunities present themselves before offering a concrete answer to the university, though he knows that Michigan, with college football recruiting already well under way, can't wait for him for long, despite the "mutual interest" that exists between the two sides.
"As another source said, Harbaugh's agent, Dave Dunn, already 'has a good sense of realistic NFL options already,'" Schefter wrote. "But as one Michigan source wondered Friday, 'If he wants to stay in the NFL, who will pay him $8 million per year?', an indication that Michigan is prepared to go hard after Harbaugh."
Harbaugh's father, Jack, is a big fan of the university's athletic director, Jim Hackett, whom he has known since the 1970s when Jack coached Hackett.
Sources also tell Schefter that Harbaugh's wife is open to the move.
Harbaugh, though he understands the school's concern about recruiting, is apparently unfazed. He is confident because he has recruited before and believes that he could successfully do so again if he returns to the college ranks.
His final decision should likely come by the end of the month.
