Jim Harbaugh: How One Man Controls So Many Coaching Searches

Jim Harbaugh will most likely coach his final game for the Stanford Cardinal tonight at the Orange Bowl.

Could be Harbaugh's Stanford swan song when he goes against Frank Beamer's Virginia Tech team in a game that doesn't mean a heckuva lot for either school.

What is significant is that Harbaugh is simply the hottest coaching commodity in American—college and professional.

So many vacancies, so many powers-that-are with Harbaugh at the top of their wish lists.

First and foremost, the NFL will come calling in a big way and Harbaugh will feel like a guy dining on the house at a five-star restaurant. So many choices, so little time.

What Harbaugh does in the days to come following tonight's game will effect Stanford and Michigan on the NCAA side while there is San Francisco, Denver, Carolina, Cleveland and who knows who else over on the professional side of the coaching ledger.

First there's John Elway in the front office in Denver. Do you see the Stanford connection?

The Carolina Panthers have the first pick in the draft.

It doesn't take Oliver Stone to the connect the dots between Charlotte, Harbaugh and Andrew Luck, does it?

There's also the city by the bay, in need of some good news and Harbaugh is a flat-out headliner and the man at the top of the San Francisco 49er's list.

Then there's the Gator Bowl disaster—a sad day for Michigan. Harbaugh could have the Michigan job yesterday if he wants it. Jim's in, Rich Rod's out, all it takes is a "yes" from the former Wolverine quarterback.

But Michigan's a long shot in this coaching lottery.

Harbaugh is sitting in a lofty spot that could only be better financially if the federal government decided to send him a billion in bailout money.

In the NFL, Harbaugh can command a five-year, $30 million deal without a lot of time for negotiation.

It's a pure Bull Market for Jim Harbaugh.

The Carolina vacancy is interesting. The Panthers have made it clear that they're not going after one of the high-profile recyclables like Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden. But if Andy Luck decides to come out in the 2011 NFL Draft, then the possibility of reuniting him with his college mentor has to be on some minds in Carolina.

What this really looks like is a long row of dominoes set up and Harbaugh is the man who will knock the first one over.

His decision will reshuffle a lot of wish lists.

First things first, there a game to play tonight and Stanford is a 3.5-point favorite over the Hokies and it's a chance for Harbaugh to show what the fuss over him is all about.