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After serving in a variety of coaching roles in both college and the NFL from 1975-2013, Dave Wannstedt knows plenty about the intricacies that go into being a head coach.

Now that his coaching career has concluded, Wannstedt is now with FOX/Big Ten Network in a college football analyst role, and is plenty familiar with Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan program.

He spoke about the impact Harbaugh has had on the Big Ten.

“I would look at this two ways,” Wannstedt said. “First of all, in order for the Big Ten to maximize its brand, Michigan has to be in play in a big way. Jim has done that with the university, and he’s also done some things individually outside the box that I give him credit for.

“If you’re a recruit, you’re kind of waiting for what’s going to happen next. I think individually he’s done a great job of establishing the program, and he’s done it in a way that’s made it fun and very interesting.”

Wannstedt went on to explain that the main reason the media is so attracted to Harbaugh is because he does things other coaches have never done before.

“People are drawn to Jim because of the things he does and says,” Wannstedt said. “How many teams have gone to Italy? How many teams have taken their players away for spring practice? He does things outside the box that nobody else has done for whatever reason.

“I think he’s very fortunate to be at a place like Michigan where they have the resources and the support for him to do those things. It’s been great for college football, and not just the Big Ten.”

It’s been well-documented how much success Harbaugh has had at each of his coaching stops – San Diego, Stanford, San Francisco 49ers and now Michigan – and Wannstedt gave his thoughts on what has made him so successful.

“He’s just so knowledgeable,” he said. “His dad was a coach, so he’s been around coaching his whole life. He understands what wins games and what loses games – some coaches don’t get that part of it.

“He’s won as a quarterback, whether it be at Michigan, with the Bears, or in Indianapolis, so he’s been successful as a player at both levels. Another thing that makes him so successful is his personality – his suggestion for me when I went from Pitt to the NFL was to adapt to the college life, because now you’re dealing with 18-year olds and not 30-year olds. Jim has done a fantastic job of adapting to the college atmosphere.”

Wannstedt explained that despite Michigan not having made the playoff or beaten Ohio State yet under Harbaugh, fans have absolutely nothing to worry about.

“Every program has a window where they have to make a big splash, and Jim definitely has them going in the right direction,” he said. “He’s getting recruits and he has a good coaching staff, so it’s going to happen. Plus, he’s competing against the best – Urban Meyer and Ohio State are second to none, and then there’s Mark Dantonio, so it’s a very difficult contest. He’s on the right path, though, so I wouldn’t overreact.”

Harbaugh-to-the-NFL rumors will likely pop up every single offseason as long as he’s having success at Michigan, but Wannstedt said that some people just don’t realize how much his Ann Arbor roots mean to him.

“I think he’ll be here for the long run,” he said. “We did his first game when they played Utah and I went up and did a sit-down with him. There was nobody prouder of the tradition and history. We talked about Bo and where he’d get his haircuts – I got the whole gambit. Guys don’t say that just to say it – you have to believe it and you have to feel it in your heart and there’s no question that’s where Jim is at.”

Finally, Wannstedt gave his own personal thoughts on the 2017 Wolverines.

“I think they’ll be good,” he said. “I like the quarterback they have coming back, so that gives you a chance every year. With so many players graduating, it’s time for new and young players to step up and perform, and they’ve done a great job recruiting so I definitely see that happening.”

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