Michigan AD Denies Tensions With Jim Harbaugh Played A Role In Coach’s NFL Exit

There are a number of factors that played a role in Jim Harbaugh’s decision to leave Michigan to coach the Chargers, and some reports have suggested a strained relationship with athletic director Warde Manuel was one of them.

However, the man tasked with overseeing the sports programs in Ann Arbor has made it very clear he doesn’t think that was the case.

The second half of Jim Harbaugh’s tenure with the Michigan Wolverines followed a very similar pattern, as the offseason tended to revolve around discussions about whether or not he had what it took to win a national championship as well as rumors he was exploring the possibility of taking a job as a head coach in the NFL.

That first debate was settled last season when Michigan won its first title since 1997, which sparked the latest round of speculation about Harbaugh’s future before he announced he’d decided to take his talents to the Los Angeles Chargers.

It was hard to blame Harbaugh for accepting the gig, as he’d managed to do what he’d set out to achieve nine years after taking the helm at Michigan and subsequently had a solid excuse to escape the multiple NCAA investigations the program found itself involved with thanks to what unfolded under his watch (including one that would’ve led to him being suspended for the entirety of this season).

There were also some reports Harbaugh felt some of the powers that be at Michigan had failed to go to bat for him when the program found itself under scrutiny—including athletic director Warde Manuel, who was purportedly the target of his ire in a conversation with a friend after last season wrapped up.

On Wednesday, Manuel got the chance to respond to that notion during a sitdown with Sam Webb of WTKA, and he downplayed the idea he had any real role in the head coach’s decision to leave.

The segment in question kicks off around the 18:30 minute mark of the interview, as Manuel highlighted his role as an advocate for Harbaugh following the shortened 2020 season where Michigan posted a 2-4 record and said he supported his decision to explore his options in the NFL.

He also addressed the alleged beef, saying:

“I don’t always agree with my bosses. He didn’t always agree with me. That’s life in the workplace. You’re gonna have differences of opinion; you’re gonna have to work it out. 

But more than not, me and Jim agreed on a lot, and that’s what helped to drive the success. The partnership that we had, the things that we did together—to help make Michigan football where it is today and help him drive success—I’m proud of, and I’m not going to let anybody tell me what I think about Jim Harbaugh. 

It’s ridiculous. Quite frankly, I’m tired of it.”

At the end of the day, there is a chance Harbaugh’s differences with Manuel contributed to his decision to join the Chargers, but it’s hard to believe it was the tipping point compared to more obvious factors.