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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - One day after the Chargers announced the hiring of Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach, the wait is on Thursday for an introductory news conference before the Los Angeles media.
While the team provided no specific details Wednesday about when the now-former University of Michigan coach will take the stage in L.A., the expectation is that it will occur sometime next week -- and be a "Bolt" of lightning for the downtrodden franchise.
The Chargers, who finished the 2023 NFL season with a dismal 5-12 record, made the hiring announcement official on Wednesday, a little over two weeks after Harbaugh guided the Wolverines to college football's national championship.
"Jim Harbaugh is football personified, and I can think of no one better to lead the Chargers forward," team owner/chairman Dean Spanos said in a statement Wednesday.
"The son of a coach, brother of a coach and father of a coach who himself was coached by names like (Bo) Schembechler and (Mike) Ditka, for the past two decades Jim has led hundreds of men to success everywhere he's been -- as their coach. And today, Jim Harbaugh returns to the Chargers, this time as our coach. Who has it better than us?"
Harbaugh, 60, won the national title on Jan. 8 when Michigan recorded a 34-13 victory over Washington in the College Football Playoff championship game.
He had coached Michigan -- his alma mater -- since 2015. He was head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14, taking the team to the Super Bowl in the 2012 season, and was a quarterbacks coach with the Oakland Raiders in 2002-03. Between those gigs, he was head coach at the University of San Diego and at Stanford.
A former NFL quarterback, he played for the Chargers during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
"My love for Michigan, playing there and coming back to coach there, leaves a lasting impact. I'll always be a loyal Wolverine," Harbaugh said in a statement.
"I'm remarkably fortunate to have been afforded the privilege of coaching at places where life's journey has created strong personal connections for me. From working as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky alongside my father, Jack, and time as an assistant with the Raiders, to being a head coach at USD, Stanford, the 49ers and Michigan -- each of those opportunities carried significance, each felt personal. When I played for the Chargers, the Spanos family could not have been more gracious or more welcoming. Being back here feels like home, and it's great to see that those things haven't changed."
Harbaugh's championship season with Michigan was marred by a pair of three-game suspensions he served. The first was a self-imposed suspension at the beginning of the season for alleged recruiting violations, while the second came at the end of the season due to a Big Ten sign-stealing probe. The NCAA's investigation into the sign-stealing scandal continues, with Michigan and Harbaugh still facing additional possible sanctions.
Harbaugh's brother, John, is head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, the AFC's top seed and a Super Bowl favorite this year.
Harbaugh will replace Brandon Staley, who was fired in mid-December as the Chargers season continued to unravel. General Manager Tom Telesco was also fired.
Staley was hired by the Chargers in 2021, accumulating a record of 24- 24 in that time. Telesco has been the general manager since 2013.
The Chargers have had high expectations since quarterback Justin Herbert took over the offense, but the team has persistently under-performed. The team has not won a playoff game since the 2018 season.
In his statement Wednesday, Harbaugh acknowledged the team's struggles.
"The only job you start at the top is digging a hole, so we know we've got to earn our way," he said.
"Be better today than yesterday. Be better tomorrow than today. My priorities are faith, family and football, and we are going to attack each with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. This organization is putting in the work -- investing capital, building infrastructure and doing everything within its power to win. Great effort equals great results, and we're just getting started."