Harbaugh attended the University of Michigan where he won Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, started in a Rose Bowl, and finished third in a competitive Heisman Trophy race. After college, he enjoyed a successful 14-year career in the NFL playing for the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens and the San Diego Chargers. He earned the nickname “Captain Comeback” for his ability to turn around a team with a losing record. This talent made him a highly sought-after coach following his retirement in 2000.

Jim was the quarterback coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2002 and 2003 and mentored starting quarterback Rich Gannon to an appearance at Superbowl XXXVII. In 2004, he joined the University of San Diego for three seasons where he led the Toreros to a 29-6 record during his tenure. Then, Harbaugh became the Head Coach at Stanford University, turning their abysmal 1-11 record in 2006 into a memory of the past when in 2010 he led the Cardinal to a 12-1 record just four seasons later, earning himself the Woody Hayes Coach of the Year award. In 2011, Jim returned to the NFL as Head Coach for the San Francisco 49ers where he became one of their most successful coaches in the league after just four years where he earned multiple NFC championship appearances and was named NFC Coach of the year.

In 2015, Harbaugh made the decision to return to his alma mater as head coach at the University of Michigan. His father Jack, who coached at Michigan from 1973-1979, was brought back on to the staff and continues to serve as an inspiration for Jim’s books, Enthusiasm Unknown to Mankind and Rise Again, each of which is a collection of intimate photos and quotes that have motivated the Harbaugh family and the teams they have led. His popularity within and passion for the game of football prompted Amazon Prime in 2018 to launch a documentary series about Coach Harbaugh and his team, entitled All or Nothing: The Michigan Wolverines.

While football coach of the University of Michigan, Harbaugh believed in unconventional coaching. He wanted to create a family-like atmosphere with his team by instilling stronger chemistry between them. He achieved this unique goal by orchestrating worldly trips for his student-athletes including to France, where the players visited the Eiffel Tower as well as the American Cemetery and Memorial at Omaha Beach in Normandy, a powerful, prideful experience moving many to tears as a sobering reminder of what it took to fight for their freedom. Previous trips included Rome and a visit to the Vatican, where Coach Harbaugh conversed with Pope Francis and left him an iconic University of Michigan winged helmet. Coach Harbaugh also remains passionate about giving back to the community. A member of the Legal Services Corporation’s Leaders Council, he helped raise money and awareness for legal services for low-income Americans, in addition to receiving a key to Toledo, his birthplace.

Off the field character and portrayal is critical piece to Coach Harbaugh’s team and personal philosophy. Jim is a passionate supporter of equal access to justice. He serves on The Legal Services Corporation’s Leaders Council, which works to increase access to civil legal assistance for low-income Americans. “True leadership is standing up on behalf of the marginalized to always do what is right,” says Harbaugh.

In 1998, he established the Jim Harbaugh Foundation with the mission to support Michigan’s at-risk youth and the organizations that provide them with the aid and support they need to succeed. In 2018, the V Foundation has decided to honor Harbaugh for his commitment to fighting pediatric cancer.

Jim Harbaugh attacks each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. His keynotes will inspire audiences to live boldly, lead authentically, and approach challenges with passion and persistence. Read Less ^