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Mike Hart calls it ‘an honor’ to team up with Jay Harbaugh on interim coach duties
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Mike Hart will get his first taste of being a head coach this Saturday, taking the head coaching duties for Michigan in the second half vs. UNLV. As a part of Jim Harbaugh’s unique interim coaching plan, special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh will start the game before Hart takes over the second half.
During Monday’s press conference, Hart discussed the idea and his appreciation to be given the task. He called it a “tremendous opportunity” to work alongside Jay Harbaugh, someone Hart referred to as “a phenomenal coach” who doesn’t get enough respect.
“Even though it is the second half, coach Jay and I will be working together. Just a tremendous opportunity to work together with Jay. Jay’s a phenomenal coach, I don’t think he gets a lot of respect he deserves,” said Hart. “He’s coached offense, he’s coached defense, he’s the special teams coordinator. He knows football well, he’s one of the hardest workers I know. To be able to share this opportunity with him is an honor.
“We talk about UNLV, obviously got a great opponent coming in. Hopefully we take care of business and the second half is easy for me and I don’t mess it up.”
Hart is a program legend at Michigan who returned to Harbaugh’s staff ahead of the 2021 season as the running backs coach. He added the role of run game coordinator a season ago.
DC Jesse Minter started the season and the interim coaching plan for the Wolverines with a resounding success in Week 1. We’ll see how Jay Harbaugh and Hart fare on Saturday.
Mike Hart thanked Jim Harbaugh for the opportunity to work the second half as Michigan’s acting head coach.
Hart said he’s excited to work with Jay Harbaugh, who will run the first half. pic.twitter.com/MHZPv2bhgw
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 4, 2023
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.