Newsstand: Jim Harbaugh to donate bonus money to athletic department workers
The winds of change are blowing across the college football landscape this week, but not with Michigan football. Head coach Jim Harbaugh announced during his appearance on “Inside Michigan Football” that any bonus money he makes this postseason will go to athletic department employees who had their pay cut during the pandemic.
“Sarah and I were talking about it last night,” Harbaugh said Monday night. “We decided that any bonus money that I am to receive through this season will be redirected to reimburse U-M athletic department employees who have stayed while taking a voluntary or mandatory pay reduction during the last 18 months during the pandemic.”
Harbaugh’s reworked contract cut his base salary to $4 million while tacking on bonuses and incentives to earn it back. He just made an extra $500,000 for winning the Big Ten East outright and will make $1 million if Michigan beats Iowa for the conference title on Saturday. He could earn as much as an extra $3.75 million in incentives for making the College Football Playoff and winning the national championship, among other kickers.
“Whether it’s folks that work here in football or at the ticket department or baseball coaches, (swim coach) Mike Bottom, there’s so many people that my wife has gotten very close to, kids have, really just our family contribution to those that have had some financial strain through the last 18 months,” Harbaugh said.
Michigan Athletics laid off 21 in the department during the COVID-19 pandemic and left 15 positions unfilled. There was also a hiring freeze and salary reductions within the department.
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Michigan football quote of the day
Other than the Washington game, I don’t think I’ve ever seen or been a part of an offense with such a dominant offensive line performance. I think that’s just a testament to the amount of work and the mentality shift of that room and that coach Moore has preached to the rest of those dudes. Just simply the execution level. These guys are confident in what they can do and we’re confident as a group that we can follow their lead and that they can drive this offense.
Michigan football quarterback Cade McNamara on the offensive line vs. Ohio State
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