Jim Harbaugh Suggests He Is Overpaid at Michigan

A majority of Americans would say they are underpaid, and if not, they wouldn’t willingly admit to not being worth their salaries. But new Michigan Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh isn’t most Americans.

Harbaugh, who signed a seven-year $38.1 million deal in the offseason, was asked by Charlie LeDuff of Fox 2 in Detroit whether he thought he deserved such a lucrative contract. To put it simply, “No.”

In the interview, the former San Francisco 49ers coach, who led the NFL team to three straight NFC title games in his first three seasons there, said he doesn't deserve the money because he is doing the same amount of work as some of his peers.

“I like making a buck just like the next guy,” Harbaugh said in the interview. “I’m not doing five times as much work as somebody else or doing more work than someone who’s not the head football coach at the University of Michigan so to answer your question, honestly, I would have to say no.”

According to a report by Cork Gaines of Business Insider, Harbaugh is set to be the second-highest-paid coach in college football, behind only Nick Saban of Alabama.

As noted by ESPN.com, John Harbaugh, Jim's brother, said he is absolutely worth the money:

"

"I think it's warranted," John Harbaugh said Tuesday. "His career has begun. He's a great football coach. He was a great player at Michigan, obviously. ... Great coach, great family man. I love him to death."

"

While Harbaugh might think he is overpaid, take a poll of Michigan fans and they would probably have a different view of the situation. If Harbaugh can end the Wolverines' struggles from the past few seasons under Brady Hoke, he will be worth every penny.