Jim Harbaugh is leaving the University of Michigan to accept the head coaching vacancy with the Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN reported Wednesday.
The 60-year-old returns to the NFL after a nine-year stint at his alma mater, where he finished 89-25, culminating in the school’s first national championship since 1997 earlier this month.
Before that, he was 44-19-1 in four seasons as San Francisco’s head coach and took the 49ers to the Super Bowl after the 2012 season. He also had winning records at Stanford and the University of San Diego.
Harbaugh has a previous relationship with the Chargers and the Spanos family that owns the team. From 1999 to 2000, he played quarterback for the Bolts.
The Chargers are searching for a coach and general manager after Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco were fired on Dec. 15, a day after a 63-21 loss in Las Vegas.
The Wolverines defeated Washington 34-13 in the College Football Playoff title game on Jan. 8.
Harbaugh has not hidden his interest in a possible return to the NFL. His brother, John, is the longtime coach of the Baltimore Ravens, who defeated Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers in the Super Bowl after the 2012 season.
Harbaugh interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings two years ago and had conversations with the Broncos and Carolina Panthers last year.