Michigan, Jim Harbaugh hire first Power 5 female grad assistant

Michigan football announced the hire of new graduate assistant Milan Bolden-Morris on Tuesday. She will join Jim Harbaugh’s staff and work primarily with quarterbacks after becoming the first female graduate assistant coach in the Big Ten or any Power Five program.

Milan Bolden-Morris joins the Michigan program after finishing her athletic career at Georgetown, where she played women’s basketball. She will earn her master’s degree in sports management this May before starting work on June 1. Once at Michigan, the school announced that she will continue graduate studies in public policy or social work.

Before playing at Georgetown, she spent time at Boston College. She made the All-ACC Honor Roll there and set the school’s freshman record for 3-pointers made with 80. She now turns her attention towards football and will work with returning starter Cade McNamara along with sophomore JJ McCarthy as they compete for the job in 2022.

Statements from Michigan

After the announcement, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh provided a statement on the historic hire.

“I have always believed in providing opportunities for individuals who are passionate about football and Mimi is someone who has shown that drive to become a football coach,” said Harbaugh. “Mimi reached out and expressed an interest in our graduate assistant positions when we had multiple openings this spring. We had some great conversations and I came away extremely impressed with her desire and ideas for coaching, and for making us better as a team. Mimi is a very bright, intelligent and competitive young woman who will be a great addition to our program and offensive coaching staff. We look forward to having Mimi transition into this role working with our quarterbacks. We can’t wait to see the new perspective she brings to our team.”

Milan Bolden-Morris also provided her thoughts on becoming the first woman to hold her new title.

“The opportunity to be the first female GA in the Power 5, especially the Big Ten, is an absolute honor,” said Bolden-Morris. “It speaks volumes to the efforts that Coach Harbaugh has made to create an environment of inclusion. These opportunities have been an anomaly for a black woman until recently. Growing up watching my dad coach my brother, it has always been my dream to be a part of a football team in some form, so this opportunity is allowing me to live out a dream of mine, especially working with quarterbacks. Coming from the basketball world, guards and quarterbacks are one in the same. Both have the ability to make decisions under duress, read defenses, take care of the ball, and execute with precision and accuracy.”