Jim Harbaugh back on recruiting trail after announced return to Michigan: 'It was nice to see him giddy’

Bellevue (Wash.) High educator Lorenzo McKinney returned back to the school’s weight room on Tuesday after taking care of some job responsibilities when he spotted Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh deadlifting 325 pounds.

“Of course, he says ‘coach, you have to come join us,’” McKinney told The Wolverine. “Definitely not the normal day for me (laughs). So here I am doing deadlifts and firemen carries with Coach Harbaugh. I couldn’t imagine all of my mornings starting like that (laughs).”

A tweet sent out by the high school football program’s account also went viral that featured Harbaugh, donning a white dress shirt and black slacks, carrying the hex bar back-and-forth while performing a shrug exercise on the indoor turf. It’s become a Harbaugh trademark on recruiting visits for him to throw plates around and pump iron, much to the amazement of high school coaches and players who host him.

From a physicality standpoint, the tweet signaled that at 59 years old, Harbaugh’s still got it. But more importantly, that Harbaugh is back on the trail less than 24 hours after confirming his return to Michigan for the 2023 season.

Less than 24 hours after Harbaugh shut down the speculation of him leaving Ann Arbor for another go-around in the NFL, on the other side of the country, he was lifting weights. As among the first people to be around Harbaugh following the statement sent out by president Santa Ono, McKinney, who’s also an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator for Bellevue’s football team, couldn’t help but notice the manner of how Harbaugh went about the visit. It was as if everything that transpired on social media and television was all just a distant memory.

“It was nice to see (Harbaugh) giddy,” McKinney said. “This was my third time meeting him, so as far as the significance is concerned, he’s always open and always willing to spend time and make time. He’s mood is always great. It’s so nice to feel wanted in those situations, especially on the front of everything happening prior to (the visit).”

But it also could have been the indication of where Harbaugh wanted to be all along in the first place. Representing the Wolverines over 2,000 away from campus, preparing for another shot at the College Football Playoff and Big Ten Championship next fall.

“Laughing with a cup of coffee in his hand like nothing happened,” McKinney said. “Like he wasn’t the number one person trending on Twitter. But even with all of the rumors going around, you can tell where his heart was. It’s hard to take away from him being a Michigan Man through-and-through. You can tell that it runs in his blood.”

For the students, faculty, and community of Bellevue High, the unprecedented nature of expecting the arrival of Harbaugh after the NFL buzz created an intense and positive stir in the building. Regardless if the past three weeks spoke a different narrative, there would have still been a buzz with having Harbaugh and Michigan tight ends coach Grant Newsome back in person.

Tuesday was a travel day for the Michigan coaches in the midst of the January contact period with Harbaugh and Newsome checking in on 2024 tight end commit Hogan Hansen, the No. 4 ranked rising junior in the nation, according to the On3 Consensus. With others on staff located in separate parts of the country, letting it be known that their future offensive playmaker remained a high priority was of the upmost importance for the pair of coaches.

It’s been a little over a month since Hansen dropped his verbal commitment publicly after visiting Michigan unofficially for the Penn State game back in mid-October and before that for the annual July BBQ at the Big House. Hansen is the latest addition to the 2024 recruiting class, which also features On300 Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth linebacker Mason Curtis, On300 Avon (Ohio) High offensive lineman Luke Hamilton, and rising Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall defensive lineman Manuel Beigel, who is originally from Germany.

“Everything that Michigan does has been that far ahead of anything and everything as far as the recruiting trail is concerned,” McKinney said. ”Whether that’s someone trying to speak to them, or them seeing us, or bringing Hogan out there. It just goes such a long way and it seems like they’re always ahead of the game.”

It would be unfair to say that the situation regarding Harbaugh’s potential leave for the professional ranks wasn’t discussed by the Hansen camp. However, it would also be unfair to say that the situation bothered them.

”It got brought up around our (Bellevue) circle and its kind of laughable, right?,” McKinney said. “I mean, Michigan isn’t going anywhere. It’s one of the better schools in the country. Let alone, we’re talking about the brand, the (block) M, everyone who we met on prior visits who wasn’t Coach Harbaugh. I don’t think they ever miss a beat. Even with everything that was going on with potential NFL rumors. They still come through and solidly Hogan’s commitment.”

But knowing that the face of the program – Hansen’s future head coach – is going to be remain intact at the school that Hansen fell in love with after multiple visits, brings about unquestioned comfort. That goes for Hansen himself, McKinney, the entire Bellevue football family, and every other prospect in the 2024 class who’s reported interest in Michigan and is looking to be in the same position as Hansen.

“I might be biased but (Harbaugh) is my type of guy,” McKinney said. “He lets it roll off his sleeve and there’s isn’t much of a filter of what’s going to be said. Him being such a tenured coach, on top of just being such a good man, that propels him to have very personable conversations. I respect that more than a coach giving you coach talk. It’s someone giving it you straight from the heart. It’s hard not to be excited about what (Michigan) has coming up.”