Jack Harbaugh

When Jack Harbaugh and his wife Jackie are asked about their family, they always reply, “Who’s got it better than us? Nobody!” They are the parents of Jim and John Harbaugh, the head coaches of the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, who became football’s first pair of brothers to play each other for a Super Bowl championship. With fans pegging it the “Harbowl,” John and the Ravens hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy that day, claiming the family’s second national title.

His father got there first by capturing the Division I-AA national championship with Western Kentucky University in 2002. Jack did it with strategic creativity, tough-love, and inspirational talk. In short, he did it in the style that echoed throughout Super Bowl XLVII. “When you see Baltimore and San Francisco – tough, physical teams – you’re seeing Jack,” said Jason Michael, the quarterback for that Western Kentucky title team. The brothers often say that their dad has the football brains in the family, with John calling him the best motivator he has ever heard. It is no coincidence that Jim and John are two of the best head coaches in the league. They learned a lot from their father – both on and off the field, and his lengthy coaching career played a critical role in their success.

Jack Harbaugh earned a legacy as a decorated football coach and a leader of men, helping a handful of high school and college teams to many successful seasons and inspiring his sons to their own history-making football careers. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Jack shares amazing and light-hearted stories and video as he gets to the heart of what it takes to build and lead a great team, raise a happy family, and run a successful business – they keys of which, he believes, are the same. An infectious and warm person, he leaves audiences feeling thankful for what they have and capable of being good at anything they set their mind to.

Successful and Inspiring Head Coach

John and Jim Harbaugh did not have to look far for an example of how to be a successful head football coach. All they had to do was watch their father, a veteran of 42 years in the coaching ranks, 37 of which were at the college level. He led the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers for 14 seasons, posting a 91-68 record, including seven consecutive winning seasons, four NCAA I-AA playoff berths, and three 10-win seasons. Under his guidance, WKU was the only I-AA school to rank in the top 10 in rushing offense between 1991 and 2002, a run of 12 straight years, and Jack’s teams ranked among the most productive offensive squads in Western’s history. He has received many honors for his successes, including being repeatedly named “Coach of the Year” by football organizations.

Jack Harbaugh also served as head coach at Western Michigan University and assistant coach at Morehead State University, Bowling Green State University, the University of Iowa, the University of Michigan, Stanford University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of San Diego. He was a player for the Bowling Green State University Falcons, and he played professionally for one season, 1961, in the American Football League for the New York Titans (now Jets).

Jack Harbaugh retired from head coaching with a winning record, a feat his sons are recreating.