Wolverine TV podcast: Jim Harbaugh situation, assistant coaches, roster movement
TheWolverine.com’s Chris Balas, Clayton Sayfie and Anthony Broome break down the latest surrounding Michigan Wolverines football, including on the Jim Harbaugh situation, assistant coaches and roster movement.
In this episode, Balas provided his take on Harbaugh’s potential raise and other assurances for the future of the program.
“They want it done by Sunday or early next week at the latest,” Balas said. “A lot of boosters are very interested, obviously, and they have a say. These are the ones that sign checks and help with the NIL stuff and everything else. A deal has not been reached — there have been reports, I think, on that — but nothing has changed.
“They are close; they are together on a lot of points, but a couple sticking points that have to be worked out. Contrary to popular belief, NIL cannot be factored into a contract because of state laws and NCAA rules. That is something that they’re going to have to follow. But about the use of the Nike logo and Jordan logo — the kids are going to be allowed to use those, but there are sticking points on the ‘Block M’ [Michigan logo]. They may have to pay for the right to do that, but it will be OK going forward.
“But more than anything, Jim Harbaugh wants to keep his Michigan staff intact, and strengthen his staff. And it sounds like they’ll be given more money to hire more people. In addition, they’ll get some more money for their assistants. They’ve already lost one in [defensive line coach] Shaun Nua. He ended up being the D-line coach at USC, which we’ll talk about in a minute.
“The most important thing to him, I think, is not his money — and he’s proven that by giving away all of his bonus money [to Michigan athletic department employees who took pay cuts during the pandemic] — but getting the staff the money that they deserve, and keeping them together, because as he said, this is the beginning of something he thinks is going to be pretty special.”
Watch or listen below.
RELATED
• Michigan football: One question at each offensive position heading into offseason
• Michigan football: Quarterback Dan Villari latest to the transfer portal
