Dec. 19, 2006
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Meet Jim Harbaugh
Stanford, Calif. -
Stanford University officially introduced Jim Harbaugh as its new head football coach and Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football on Tuesday at a press conference held at Kissick Auditorium inside the Arrillaga Family Sports Center on the Stanford campus.
"I was very happy we were able to recruit Jim Harbaugh to come to Stanford University," said Bob Bowlsby, The Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics at Stanford. "I think he is an extraordinary fit at our University. He certainly values the convergence of world class athletics and world class academics, and I think he will do an extraordinary job of representing our University as the head football coach in the years ahead."
"It is a pleasure, privilege, honor and blessing to accept the opportunity to be Stanford University's next head football coach", commented Harbaugh. "Now, I dedicate my life's work to building the foundation here at Stanford University, the foundation that will lead to great success down the road as well as continue the tradition and restore the legacy that Stanford rightfully has in college football."
"I thank Bob Bowlsby for putting his trust in me to lead the Stanford University football program," Harbaugh continued. "I vow I will attack this endeavor with enthusiasm unknown to mankind."
Harbaugh has spent the last three seasons (2004-06) as the head coach at the University of San Diego, leading the Toreros to Division I-AA Mid-Major national titles each of the past two campaigns. He posted an impressive three-year overall record of 29-6 (.829) at San Diego, including 11-1 campaigns each of the past two years that also included a school record 18-game win streak over the period and two Pioneer Football League championships.
He played for five teams over 15 seasons (1987-2001) as a quarterback in the National Football League after entering the NFL as a first round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1987. He also saw NFL action with the Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Carolina Panthers. Harbaugh's professional playing career was highlighted by his 1995 season when he led Indianapolis to the AFC Championship game while earning AFC Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors during a Pro Bowl campaign. He was also the runner-up for the NFL's Most Valuable Player honor in 1995 and the league's top-rated passer.
Harbaugh's most statistically successful NFL season came in 1991 when he passed for a career-best 3,121 yards and led Chicago to an NFC Wild Card game. He also led the Bears to an NFC Division playoff contest after winning an NFC Wild Card game in 1990.
He passed for 26,288 yards and 129 touchdowns during his professional tenure and ranks among the NFL's all-time Top 50 in career completions (#35, 2,305), pass attempts (#39, 3,918) and passing yards (#48, 26,288). He was named to the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor in January of 2005.
Harbaugh began his coaching career while still playing in the NFL as an NCAA-certified unpaid assistant coach under his father, Jack, at Western Kentucky University for eight seasons from 1994-2001. Serving as an offensive consultant, Jim scouted and recruited high school student-athletes throughout several states including Florida, Indiana and Illinois. He was involved in recruiting 17 players on WKU's 2002 Division I-AA National Championship team. His dad was a football coach for 41 years, including 14 seasons as the head coach at Western Kentucky. His brother, John, is currently the special teams coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles and in his ninth year with the organization; and his brother-in-law, Tom Crean, is in his eighth campaign as the men's basketball head coach at Marquette University.
Harbaugh also spent two seasons (2002-03) as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders with the team reaching the Super Bowl in his first campaign.
He played collegiate football at the University of Michigan and led the Wolverines to three bowl games as a starting quarterback from 1984-86. As a senior in 1986, he guided Michigan to an appearance in the Rose Bowl while earning All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year honors, and finishing third in the Heisman Trophy balloting. His 1985 Wolverine team added a Fiesta Bowl victory and ended the season ranked second in the national polls. He quarterbacked Michigan to a 21-3-1 overall record while starting all 25 contests in his final two collegiate campaigns.
Harbaugh has local ties to Stanford with his father spending two seasons (1980-81) as the school's defensive coordinator and Jim playing two years of prep football at nearby Palo Alto High School before graduating in 1982.
Harbaugh is also co-owner of Panther Racing in the Indy Racing League. His team won the 2001 and 2002 IRL championship. In addition, he has been very active in community service ventures including the Harbaugh Hill Foundation, the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children (Indiana University), Western Kentucky University, the Jim Harbaugh Foundation, the Uhlich's Children's Home and the Children's Miracle Network.
He has three children: sons Jay (born June 14, 1989) and James, Jr. (born September 4, 1996), and daughter Grace (born June 27, 2000).
JIM HARBAUGH AT A GLANCE
PERSONAL
Full Name: James Joseph "Jim" Harbaugh
Birthdate: December 23, 1963
Place of Birth: Toledo, OH
High School: Palo Alto High School, 1982
College: Michigan, B.A., Communications, 1986
NFL Draft: 1987/Chicago Bears/1st Round (26th overall pick)
NFL Playing Career: 1987-2001 (Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore,
San Diego, Carolina)
Children: Jay (born June 14, 1989); James, Jr. (born September 4, 1996); Grace (born June 27, 2000)
COACHING CAREER
University of San Diego - Head Coach (2004-06)
2006: 11-1 (Division I-AA Mid Major National Champions,
Pioneer Football League Champions)
2005: 11-1 (Division I-AA Mid Major National Champions,
Pioneer Football League Champions)
2004: 7-4
Overall Head Coaching Record: 29-6
Oakland Raiders - Quarterbacks Coach (2002-03)
• Oakland reached the 2003 Super Bowl following the 2002 campaign
Western Kentucky - Assistant Coach (1994-2001)
• Served as an NCAA-certified unpaid assistant for his father Jack
for eight seasons while still playing in the NFL
PLAYING CAREER
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (1987-2001)
• Played for 15 NFL seasons with five different teams, racking up
26,288 passing yards and 129 touchdowns while completing 2,905-of-3,918
passes in 177 games and 140 starts
• Selected the AFC Offensive Player of the Year, NFC Comeback Player
of the Year and a Pro Bowl selection in 1995 when he led the
Indianapolis Colts to the AFC Championship Game
• Member of the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor
• Ranks among the NFL's all-time Top 50 in career completions (#35),
pass attempts (#39) and passing yards (#48)
Carolina Panthers (2001)
2001: Finished his playing career by participating in six
games
San Diego Chargers (1999-2000)
2000: Completed 60.9% of his passes
1999: Threw for 2761 yards (second most in his career)
Baltimore Ravens (1998)
1998: Played in 14 games in his lone season with the Ravens
Indianapolis Colts (1994-97)
1997: Threw for over 2,000 yards for the third straight
campaign
1996: Led team to second straight postseason appearance and
passed for his Indianapolis career-best 2,630 yards
1995: AFC Offensive Player of the Year • NFC Comeback
Player of the Year • Pro Bowl • AFC Championship Game •
Career-high 17 TD passes
1994: First season with Indianapolis
Chicago Bears (1987-93)
1993: Posted fourth straight season with over 2,000 passing
yards in his seventh and final campaign in Chicago
1992: Played in all 16 regular season games for the second
consecutive season
1991: Career-high 3,121 yards in the air and led Chicago to
NFC Wild Card game after 11-5 regular season
1990: Reached a NFC Divisional playoff contest after winning
Wild Card game and posting 11-5 regular season
1989: Part-time starter
1988: Third string QB behind Jim McMahon and Mike Tomczak
1987: Saw limited action as an NFL rookie after being selected
in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft
COLLEGE FOOTBALL (1983-86)
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
• Threw for 5449 yards and 31 touchdowns in his career, while
completing 387-of-620 passes
• Added 12 touchdowns on the ground
• Led Michigan to a 21-3-1 record as a full-time starter in final two
collegiate seasons
• First Michigan quarterback to ever throw for over 300 yards in a
single game
1986: Led team to 11-2 record, a share of Big Ten regular
season title and Rose Bowl appearance ... Third in voting for Heisman
Trophy • Big Ten Player of the Year • First Team All-American •
Second-ranked quarterback in the nation in passing efficiency •
School record 2,729 passing yards
1985: Led team to a 10-1-1 overall record, a second-place Big
Ten finish and Fiesta Bowl victory
1984: Co-led the club with five starts
1983: Saw limited action in first collegiate campaign