Jim Harbaugh completes Stanford staff

Stanford hired former NFL assistant Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator. Coach Jim Harbaugh also announced Tuesday that Brian Polian will take over as special teams coordinator and Randy Hart is the new defensive line coach. Fangio spent the previous 24 seasons in the NFL. He most recently was linebackers coach under Harbaugh’s brother, John, in Baltimore. Co-defensive coordinator Andy Buh left last month for Nevada. Ron Lynn will stay on as director of player development. Polian is the son of Colts president Bill Polian. He coached special teams the past five years for Notre Dame. Hart had served as defensive line coach at Washington for 21 years before holding the same job at Notre Dame last season. – Silicon Valley Mercury News

Reports: Jim Harbaugh pursued by Raiders

Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh isn’t going anywhere, and he sure isn’t going to Oakland. That’s what ESPN reported Wednesday, saying Harbaugh rebuffed the Raiders’ recent interest in his head-coaching services. The Raiders, for their part, denied ever contacting Harbaugh. – San Francisco Chronicle

Why did Stanford delay Jim Harbaugh deal?

Nearly three months after the agreement was reached and nearly a year after the basics of the deal were put together, Stanford announced football coach Jim Harbaugh’s three-year contract extension Sunday and raised even more questions in the process. Neither Harbaugh nor athletic director Bob Bowlsby explained the delay, other than to say the economic downturn, which led to layoffs in the athletic department, was a contributing factor a year ago. Neither side would reveal the terms of the contract, but both men obviously thought that announcing a multimillion-dollar contract extension last winter while many Stanford departments were facing cutbacks would be insensitive. – San Francisco Chronicle

Report: Jim Harbaugh Offered Kansas Job

Stanford head football coach Jim Harbaugh has been offered a “lucrative” contract with the University of Kansas, sources tell KMBC-TV… Details of the contract offer weren’t released, but several online publications put the salary at about $2.5 million. – KMBC

Jim Harbaugh in line for Kansas job

The Star has learned that Kansas has talked with Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh about the opening and that Harbaugh is likely the Jayhawks’ top choice. East Carolina coach Skip Holtz and Buffalo coach Turner Gill have also emerged from the pack of coaches that have spoken with AD Lew Perkins. It appears that Holtz and Gill would take the job if offered. – Kansas City Star

Jim Harbaugh met with Notre Dame reps

Multiple sources told the Sun-Times that Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh met Monday in Chicago with reps from the Atlanta-based Parker group to discuss the Notre Dame job. Harbaugh was in Green Bay, Wis., on Monday night to watch brother John coach the Baltimore Ravens in a loss to the Packers. Harbaugh refuted a report in the New York Times that he was scheduled to meet with Irish athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who was in New York at the time. – Chicago Sun Times

Jim Harbaugh denies talking to Notre Dame

Standing on the sideline at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field looking cold and wearing a Stanford hoodie, Jim Harbaugh denied a New York Times report that he would interview for the Notre Dame job. ESPN’s Michelle Tafoya interviewed Harbaugh before the start of tonight’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens. Harbaugh’s brother, John, coaches the Ravens. “There’s no meeting,” Harbaugh said when asked if he would or had interviewed for the Notre Dame opening. “I haven’t talked to anyone at Notre Dame. I haven’t talked to anyone at Notre dame about a meeting. – Chicago Tribune

Jim Harbaugh, Kevin Sumlin Lead Kansas Search

The two coaches, both 45, who make the most sense for Perkins to pursue played against each other in the Big Ten from 1983 to 1986, one a quarterback, the other a linebacker. They both fit the telegenic, people-person profile Perkins seeks as the new face of the football program. Both are proven recruiters and have what it takes to relate to players and boosters, who eventually will be shaken down in an attempt to revive a Gridiron Club ready to be read its last rites. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, former University of Michigan and Chicago Bears quarterback, played against Kevin Sumlin, University of Houston coach and former Purdue linebacker, in college. Harbaugh has the bigger name and likely would create greater excitement initially than Sumlin, but Sumlin is a better geographic fit as far as recruiting contacts. Would they come to Kansas? Probably. – KUSports.com

Jim Harbaugh’s short answer: ‘I will be at Stanford’

There are good reasons for Jim Harbaugh to remain at Stanford next year, the year after and for as close to infinity as football coaches are allowed to contemplate. For one: “I love Stanford, I’m only talking Stanford, and I will be at Stanford. God willing.” That was Harbaugh’s answer Tuesday when I asked about his interest in Notre Dame or other potential large coaching vacancies. That has been Harbaugh’s line through his ascendant three-season stay on the Farm, even with Notre Dame coming to town this weekend and the speculation flying. Next year he’ll absolutely be at Stanford? “I will be at Stanford,” Harbaugh said quickly, before adding: “Stopping it right there.” – San Jose Mercury News

Michigan should fire Rodriguez, Hire Harbaugh

Through it all — the most wins of any team in college football history (872), 42 Big Ten championships, 11 national titles and 40 bowl appearances — the University of Michigan has prided itself on doing things, “the right way.” Not once in the years since the University of Michigan began playing football in 1891 has the school been found in violation of NCAA regulations. But the past two years have not been kind to Michigan football. After Saturday’s 21-10 loss to archrival Ohio State in front of a stadium half-full with Buckeye fans instead of Wolverine faithful, the question needs to be asked: Is Rich Rodriguez the right man for the job as the head coach? Of equal importance, should university president Mary Sue Coleman and outgoing athletic director Bill Martin be held accountable for the hiring of Rodriguez and the situation the school’s football program finds itself in today? The answers: No and yes… Michigan should cut its losses and look for a way to return the program to its roots. Hire a coach with close ties to the old program. Former Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh has done wonders with the program at Stanford, beating highly touted USC and Oregon this year. Harbaugh’s contract expires this year. Michigan would be well-advised to pick up the phone and call the man who once guaranteed and delivered on a promise to beat Ohio State. – The Oakland Press

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