Got their man

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan Interim Athletic Director Jim Hackett announced Tuesday that former Wolverine quarterback and San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has been hired as the 20th coach in football history. Harbaugh becomes the sixth former Michigan player to be named the leader of college football's winningest program.

"Throughout my life I have dreamed of coaching at the University of Michigan," said Harbaugh, Michigan's J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach. "Now I have the honor to live it.

"Across every discipline on campus, the University of Michigan stands for excellence," Harbaugh said. "I feel privileged to take a leadership position at one of the finest universities in the world. I truly believe it is time to ask what we can do for our great university, and how I can be a great teammate. I commit to do my part to see to it the Michigan football program upholds its tradition of excellence."

"We are excited to have Jim come home and lead our football program into the future," said Hackett, the Interim Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "Since retiring from playing in the NFL, Jim has worked hard to become one of the elite coaches in the profession. He has been successful at every coaching stop and has done an exceptional job of molding and developing young men as football players, students and citizens. We believe that Jim is the perfect individual to balance the academic and athletic expectations that come with representing this football program and University."

Harbaugh comes to Ann Arbor after an impressive four-year run in the National Football League. He led the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC Championship game in each of his first three seasons, winning the George Halas Trophy as NFC champions in 2012. Harbaugh tallied a 49-22-1 record that included a 5-3 mark in the postseason as 49ers head coach.

Prior to making the jump to the 49ers, Harbaugh rebuilt Stanford football. The Cardinal improved each of his four seasons, capped with a 12-1 campaign and FedEx Orange Bowl victory against Virginia Tech in 2010. Harbaugh finished his tenure at Stanford with a 29-21 overall record (.580) and 21-15 mark in Pac-10 Conference play.

In his first head coaching experience, Harbaugh led San Diego to a 29-6 record during his three seasons directing the program (2004-06). In his first year, the Toreros posted a 7-4 record after winning their final five games of the season. The team proceeded to post 11-1 marks during the 2005 and 2006 seasons, claiming the Pioneer Football League Championship each season.

As a collegiate player, Harbaugh was one of the most efficient passers in NCAA history. In 1985, he led the nation in pass efficiency and finished as the runner-up in 1986. His career pass-efficiency rating was the NCAA's top mark for more than 12 years. Harbaugh won the Chicago Tribune Big Ten Most Valuable Player award, earned first team All-America honors and finished third in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy following the 1986 season.

He completed 387-of-620 passes for 5,449 yards and 31 touchdowns during his career, with all four statistical categories still listing among the top 12 in school history. He also added 12 rushing touchdowns during his career, including eight scores as a senior. Harbaugh became the first Michigan quarterback to ever throw for more than 300 yards in a single game (310 vs. Wisconsin) and eclipsed the 200-yard passing mark 12 times. He led the Wolverines to a 21-3-1 record as a full-time starter during his final two seasons, including a pair of victories against rivals Michigan State and Ohio State.