by David Zizmor

SANTA CLARA–It’s not often that you will see a head coach either in the NFL or the NCAA announce that he’s up for a new job before his old job ends. As San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh was saying for weeks on end that he wants to focus on the games on the 49ers schedule and that he’s only focusing on preparing the team, the coaches, and the personnel each week and didn’t want to talk about any offers from Michigan his new found employer for next season. That policy ended when it was announced on Friday night that Harbaugh will coach at Michigan next season.

Harbaugh who is coaching his last game of the season against the Arizona Cardinals at Levis Stadium had no idea when the season started and the new stadium was first opened that he would be the subject of possibly leaving the team. As the season wore on he never got the contract extension he was expecting and their were problems internally with the team aka Ray McDonald’s domestic issues, Aldon Smith’s nine game suspension for illegal fire arms possession and drinking. There was also talk during the season that Harbaugh lost the locker room too.

Harbaugh through it all held his head high and navigated the team with the best of his ability but there were some tough loses the team had to suck up during the course of the season losing twice to Seattle, losing tough games to Arizona, Denver, and a close three point loss to St.Louis, and some might have questioned if he lost the team when they lost to the Oakland Raiders at Levis 24-13.

Either way Harbaugh was heavily pursued during the ending of the season by Michigan who running up during the week of the Raiders game there was an offer to Harbaugh to sign on with his former alma mater for six years and $49 million. He had come to an agreement with the 49ers this past week to let him out of the last year of his five year deal which his last season was scheduled for next season and go to Michigan. Harbaugh was getting $5 million a year on this current $25 million deal with the 49ers.

Harbaugh will be introduced at Michigan this week during a press conference that should take place either on Monday or Tuesday. Harbaugh goes back to his roots where he quarterbacked for legendary head coach Bo Schembelcher in 1982-86. It was also no secret that Harbaugh was having front office issues with his bosses from last season and likewise this season with 49ers team CEO Jed York who actually apologized on twitter to the fans for losing a game to the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving day 19-3.

49ers running back Vernon Davis said at the time of the apology which some viewed as an embarrassing moment for the coach to have the team CEO apologize on social media “there are a lot of distractions around here, all season long there have been a lot of distractions. But we tried our best to fight through them. Even now, there’s a lot of talk about Harbaugh not being here.”

Trent Baalke the 49ers general manager’s daughter Cassie tweeted that 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman should be fired after the 49ers Thanksgiving loss and later Baalke and Cassie both issued an apology to Roman stating from Baalke “my daughter and I both regret that her feelings got the best of her after last night’s game and that she chose social media to express her feelings. While disappointed, as a father I will use this as a teachable moment to help my daughter grow.” said Baalke

David Zizmor covers the NFL for http://www.sportsradioservice.com