Disclaimer: Online sportsbook BetOnline released odds that David Shaw is the betting favorite to become Michigan’s head coach if Jim Harbaugh were to leave. Here, we play out this scenario.

JANUARY 29, 2020

BREAKING: Michigan Hires David Shaw, Stanford Brings Back Jim Harbaugh

After a two-month coaching search, Michigan has their guy—David Shaw, who replaces Jim Harbaugh.

Shaw took the reins from Harbaugh once before. In 2011, Harbaugh departed Stanford for the NFL, and Shaw inherited the program. He led the team to three PAC-12 titles and a pair of Rose Bowl wins in their three trips. He leaves Stanford as the winningest coach in program history.

This year, the Cardinal and Shaw struggled, losing five straight games after their opening victory. Cardinal fans became increasingly frustrated with their coach, while Stanford at 3-9 never came close to bowl eligibility. The Cardinal concluded the season with a blowout loss to Notre Dame.

Shaw receives $6.5 million annually in his new deal, a significant upgrade from his $4.3 million at Stanford. He is also adding Shannon Turley to his Michigan staff, following the mysterious firing of the award-winning performance director in early 2019. Harbaugh recruited Turley to Ann Arbor for years, but was unable to convince the strength coach to leave Palo Alto.

Meanwhile, Stanford announced that they would bring back their former coach Jim Harbaugh, who famously turned around a struggling Stanford program.

Harbaugh did not meet expectations at Michigan and will take a pay cut at Stanford. He’ll receive about $5 million annually—$2.5 million less than his last job. There’s no surprise that the coaching market did not offer him more after a disappointing run at Michigan and a falling out with the 49ers just a few years prior.

Still, Stanford should be excited to replace the departing Shaw with Harbaugh. Last time Harbaugh served as head coach at Stanford, he took over a one-win team and left them as a one-loss team. There’s no telling what he’ll do this time around, and many are optimistic.

Harbaugh and Shaw will now look to piece together the rest of their staffs. Early reports suggest that both coaches are vying for their former player, Andrew Luck, as an assistant. Sources close to the matter say that Luck is leaning toward a return to Stanford.

More as the story develops.