Mike Hart took his turn as Michigan’s interim head coach during the second half of Week 2. In the process, Hart earned a special distinction with the program.

Hart became the first African-American head coach in the history of Michigan football as he closed out the game that Jay Harbaugh started. After the game, Hart acknowledged having a number of good coaches and African-American mentors along his journey.

He also said college football needs more African-American head coaches, a position he plans on holding one day in his career:

“My first coaching job was with Ron English at Eastern Michigan. We have an athletic director, Warde Manuel, who’s African-American as well,” said Hart. “I’ve had a close relationship since he’s been here. I’ve just had a lot of great coaches…

“It just really let me know it can happen, it’s a possibility. Hopefully we see more African-American coaches in college football. We need more, so hopefully, I’ll be one of those one day, I will be one of those one day. Truly it’s a great honor. This is my university, I played here, and it has changed my life. To have an opportunity to always say I was the first African-American head coach is huge.”

While Hart certainly has head coaching aspirations in the future, he’s a key part of Jim Harbaugh’s elite staff of assistants and a piece the program is more than happy to have.