Harbaugh Named Finalist for George Munger College Coach of the Year
12/30/2021 1:00:00 PM | Football
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Maxwell Football Club announced on Thursday (Dec. 30) that University of Michigan J. Ira Harris and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh is one of five finalists for the 2021 George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award.
Harbaugh is joined by Dave Aranda (Baylor), Luke Fickell (Cincinnati), Mel Tucker (Michigan State), and Jeff Traylor (UTSA). The winner will be announced on January 19th, 2022 and will be presented at the 85th Maxwell Awards Gala on March 18, 2022.
Harbaugh has been a semifinalist on two other occasions (2016, '18) for the Munger Award. Brady Hoke (2011) is U-M's lone recipient of the honor.
Harbaugh has guided Michigan to the College Football Playoff National Semifinal in the Capital One Orange Bowl against No. 3 Georgia on New Year's Eve (Friday, Dec. 31) at 7:30 p.m. ET. The second-ranked Wolverines (12-1) are making their first appearance in the CFP after winning the 2021 Big Ten Championship with a 42-3 victory over No. 12 Iowa at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 4.
U-M has won 12 games for just the third time in school history, equaling the victory totals of the 1905 and 1997 teams. The Wolverines won the Big Ten East Division title with a 42-27 victory over No. 2 Ohio State to finish the regular season with an 8-1 conference mark.
Michigan ranks in the top 15 in scoring defense (fourth) and scoring offense (13th) and in the top 20 in total defense (13th) and total offense (18th). The Wolverines list in the top 25 of 27 NCAA statistical categories, including top-10 rankings in 12 areas, and leads the nation in tackles for loss allowed and kick return defense.
U-M had 22 players (10 offense, nine defense, three special teams) recognized with all-conference accolades, led by six first-team All-Big Ten performers. In addition, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and kicker Jake Moody were named first-team All-Americans. Hutchinson was the Heisman Trophy runner-up and won the Rotary Lombardi Award, Ted Hendricks Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football. Moody became Michigan's first-ever winner of the Lou Groza Award.
Harbaugh has already been named The Associated Press Coach of the Year, and has been named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award as well.
