Jack Harbaugh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jack Harbaugh

Harbaugh with Michigan in 2023
Biographical details
Born	(1939-06-28) June 28, 1939 (age 86) Crestline, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
1957–1960	Bowling Green
Position(s)	Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962–1963	Perrysburg HS (OH) (assistant)
1964–1965	Eaton HS (OH)
1966	Xenia HS (OH)
1967	Morehead State (assistant)
1968–1970	Bowling Green (assistant)
1971–1973	Iowa (assistant)
1973–1979	Michigan (DB)
1980–1981	Stanford (DC)
1982–1986	Western Michigan
1987–1988	Pittsburgh (assistant)
1989–2002	Western Kentucky
2004–2006	San Diego (RB)
2009	Stanford (RB)
2023	Michigan (AHC)
Head coaching record
Overall	116–95–3 (college)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA FBS (CFP) (2023) NCAA Division I-AA (2002) Western Ohio League (1966) OVC (2000) GFC (2002)
Awards
AFCA NCAA Division I-AA COY (2002) OVC Coach of the Year (2000)

Jack Avon Harbaugh, born on June 28, 1939, is a famous American college football coach and a former player. He was the main football coach at Western Michigan University from 1982 to 1986. Later, he coached at Western Kentucky University from 1989 to 2002. Overall, he won 116 games, lost 95, and tied 3 as a college head coach.

In 2002, his last year at Western Kentucky, he led his team, the Hilltoppers, to win the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship. In 2023, Jack Harbaugh came out of retirement. He became the assistant head coach for the Michigan Wolverines team. His son, Jim, was the head coach at the time. Together, they helped Michigan win the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Jack Harbaugh's sons, John and Jim, made history. They were the first brothers to be head coaches in the NFL. They were also the first brothers to coach against each other in a Super Bowl. This happened in Super Bowl XLVII in February 2013.

Early Life and High School

Jack Harbaugh was born in Crestline, Ohio. His parents were Marie Evelyn and William Avon Harbaugh. He has German and Irish family roots. He finished Crestline High School in 1957.

At Crestline High, he played both football and baseball for four years. In his final year, he was an all-state quarterback in football and a shortstop in baseball. He also played basketball for two years.

College Playing Career

Harbaugh played college football for the Bowling Green State University Falcons. He played from 1957 to 1960. He earned a letter (a special award for athletes) three times.

In his junior year, the Falcons had a perfect season, winning all 9 games. They were named the national champions for small college teams. In 1961, the Buffalo Bills picked him in the AFL draft to play as a running back.

Coaching Journey

Jack Harbaugh started his coaching career as an assistant. He worked for Jerry Nowak at Perrysburg High School in Ohio. Both of his sons were born while he was coaching there.

In 1964, Harbaugh became the head coach at Eaton High School in Ohio. His team had a winning record of 5 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. This was their first winning season in many years. In 1965, the team won 6 games and lost 4. In 1966, he coached the Xenia High School football team in Ohio. In his one year there, his team had 8 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. He won the Western Ohio League championship and was named Coach of the Year for the conference.

Harbaugh then worked as an assistant coach at various colleges from 1968 to 1981.

Head Coach at Western Michigan

From 1982 to 1986, he was the head football coach at Western Michigan University. During this time, his team's record was 25 wins, 27 losses, and 3 ties.

Leading the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

From 1989 to 2002, he was the head football coach at Western Kentucky University. With the Hilltoppers, he achieved a record of 91 wins and 68 losses. His teams had three seasons where they won 10 or more games.

The Hilltoppers were known for their strong running game. They were one of the top 10 teams in rushing offense every year from 1991 to 2002. In 2002, his Western Kentucky team won the NCAA Division I-AA national football championship.

Later Coaching Roles

After leaving Western Kentucky, Harbaugh worked at Marquette University in Wisconsin. He was an associate athletic director. His son-in-law, Tom Crean, was the head coach for the men's basketball team there.

Harbaugh also served as an assistant coach at several other universities. These include Morehead State University, Bowling Green State University, the University of Iowa, the University of Michigan, Stanford University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of San Diego.

He officially retired in 2006. However, he returned to coach running backs for Stanford in the 2009 Sun Bowl. He filled in for Willie Taggart, who had just become the new head coach at WKU.

In 2023, Jack Harbaugh came out of retirement again. He became an assistant head coach for Michigan. This happened when his son Jim was suspended for three games. Jack helped the team win the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship alongside his son.

Family Life

Jack Harbaugh married Jacqueline M. "Jackie" Cipiti in 1961. They have three children: John, Jim, and Joani. Jack and Jackie made their home in Mequon, Wisconsin. This was when he took his job at Marquette University. Jack is also a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Bowling Green State University.

His two sons, John Harbaugh and Jim Harbaugh, are both head coaches in the National Football League (NFL). John coaches the Baltimore Ravens, and Jim coaches the Los Angeles Chargers. They were the first brothers to be head coaches in the NFL.

The brothers coached against each other in a game called the 'Harbaugh Bowl' or 'Har-bowl'. This happened on Thanksgiving Day in 2011. John's Ravens beat Jim's 49ers 16–6. They faced each other again in a second 'Har-bowl' on February 3, 2013. This was at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. Baltimore won 34–31. Jim also played as a quarterback at Michigan and for 15 seasons in the NFL before becoming a coach.

Their daughter, Joani, is married to Tom Crean. Tom has been a head men's basketball coach at Marquette, Indiana, and Georgia. Jack met Tom when Jack was coaching football at Western Kentucky University. At that time, Tom was an assistant basketball coach.

Coaching Records

College Head Coach