Mike Hart Joins Michigan Staff as Running Back Coach

Mike Hart Joins Michigan Staff as Running Back Coach

ANN ARBOR, me. – J. Ira and Nicki Harris, Senior Football Coach Jim harbaugh announced on Wednesday January 13 the hiring of former Wolverine running back Mike Hart as the program’s running back mentor. The all-time best player in Michigan football history, Hart has been the running backs coach at Indiana University for the past four seasons (2017-20). He was elevated to associate head coach in 2020 after serving as an assistant coach for the Hoosiers during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

“I am delighted to have added Mike Hart to our offensive coaching staff,” said Harbaugh. “Mike is an excellent coach and a Michigan man who has shown his ability to develop and improve the performance of the running backs he has mentored. We look forward to welcoming Mike, Monique and their children to the Michigan Football family. . “

“Michigan has always held a special place in my heart,” Hart said. “It’s a place that has always believed in me and a place that I have always believed in. I am delighted to join Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan team, and I can’t wait to get down to business with a talented group of running backs. “

In his 10 seasons as a coach, Hart mentored four 1,000-yard rushers, two Mid-American Conference freshman of the year recipients and 2014 MAC offensive player of the year Jarvion Franklin.

As a member of the Indiana coaching staff, Hart was nominated for the 2018 Broyles Award and was recognized as one of Rivals.com’s Top 25 Scouters for his work in the 2019 signing class.

Hart was instrumental in the development of the Indiana running game, with the program gaining 1,888 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2018. IU followed by producing 1,695 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2019. The Hoosiers gained 869 yards and scored 12 touchdowns during the shortcut. Campaign 2020.

Hart developed Stevie Scott into an all-conference artist with the tailback who won the second-team All-Big Ten in the past two seasons (2019-20) after receiving honorable mentions as a rookie. Scott set Indiana’s true freshman running record with 1,137 yards on 228 attempts and 10 touchdowns in 2018. He appeared in six 100-yard running games as a rookie and became the 19th Hoosier at reach the 1000 yard mark.

In 2020, Scott gained 561 rushing yards and scored 10 touchdowns in eight games. He became the 14th Hoosier running back to pass 2,000 career yards (2,543 yards) and is currently fourth in IU history with 30 touchdowns.

Hart returned to his home state as running backs coach at Syracuse University for the 2016 season before accepting the running back position in Indiana.

He spent two seasons at Kalamazoo (2014-15), helping West Michigan win back-to-back bowl auctions for the first time in school history at the 2015 Bahamas Bowl and Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. 2014. Hart coached a pair of Broncos running backs to first-year MAC honors after 1,000-yard running seasons. Jamauri Bogan rushed for 1,051 yards and was second in the league with 16 touchdowns in 2015. Jarvion Franklin gained 1,551 yards, the second-highest total from a freshman, and set records in one The WMU’s season for points (150) and rushing touchdowns (24) in 2014. Franklin was also named MAC’s offensive player of the year and took home USA Today freshman honors.

Hart started his coaching career in eastern Michigan as an offensive quality control coach during the 2011 season before being elevated to running backs coach for the 2012 seasons. and 2013. Under Hart’s tutelage, the 2013 ground game racked up 1,896 yards after gaining 1,960 yards in 2012. Bronson Hill eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark in 2013 to finish 31st nationally and win All-MAC honors from the third team.

Hart was a four-year runner-up starter for the Wolverines (2004-07) and set the school record with 5,040 yards on 1,015 carries and 41 rushing touchdowns. He holds the Michigan record with 28 career 100-yard running games and his 117.2 rushing yards per fight are the highs in school history. As a receiver, Hart added 67 receptions for 566 yards and scored two touchdowns.

A two-time Doak Walker Award finalist, Hart was fifth in the 2006 Heisman Trophy vote. He was selected three times by the All-Big Ten first team and was named a 2004 Big Ten freshman. Hart shared the Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player Award in 2006 and received this honor again in 2007.

After graduating from Michigan in 2009, Hart was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played three seasons for the Colts, mostly in a backup role, carrying the ball 71 times for 264 yards and two touchdowns in 21 games. He was a member of the Colts’ Super Bowl XLIV winning team and won two races in the victory over the Chicago Bears.

A native of Syracuse, New York, Hart attended Onondaga Central High School. He set the national career high school record with 204 rushing touchdowns and was second with 11,045 rushing yards. Onondaga Central compiled a 46-1 record and won three state championships during Hart’s career.

Hart and his wife, Monique, have three children.