[Austroturf]

Was Harbaugh a genius at Stanford or was he lucky? I think probably both. As we have seen, he can't replicate that success on demand.

This is the second time I've seen this sentiment posted here (maybe you did it both times).
Regardless, hasn't Harbaugh been wildly successful at all his head coaching stops?  (Along with being wildly a pain in the ass?).

Harbaugh has never had a losing season at Michigan (other than the pandemic-shortened aberration of 2020, when the Wolverines finished 2-4).  His win percentage, at 71%, exceeds Shaw's win percentage at Stanford (70%), and all this in arguably a tougher conference.  Harbaugh's main failing, so far, has been his inability to win a BIG championship and his 0-5 record against Ohio State. His 1-4 record in bowl games is also a blemish.  

Frankly, I think Harbaugh's skill-set was a better fit to 2007 Stanford than 2015 Michigan.  He inherited a moribund program on the Farm, brought in some excellent coaches and squeezed every ounce of potential out of the existing players, while at the same time furiously recruiting excellent future players.  This sense of urgency is what I miss in the current regime.  Michigan's program was underperforming, but was not nearly as broken as Stanford's in 2007.  Brady Hoke had gone 11-2, 8-5, 7-6 and 5-7 before getting the ax.  Further, Michigan is a football blue-blood.  Harbaugh knew that, since he played there.  So Harbaugh's EUTM-style was bound to be less effective than at a program where winning was less consistent and the "champion mindset" less prevalent.  In my view, Harbaugh's success at Stanford was a combination of his being the right man at the right time and, yes, a bit of good fortune, because a number of traditionally-strong programs in the Pac-10 were down (UW and UCLA), and USC was entering a period of turbulence that ultimately got them slapped with sanctions.  The flagship program in the conference was Oregon, and they ensured that Harbaugh failed to win the Pac-10 in his best and final season (2010).

And, yes, Harbaugh is famously rough around the edges.  That personality trait got him canned at the 49ers and has rubbed many players, colleagues, staff members and fans the wrong way.  But his results, so far, are undeniably excellent.

[Austroturf]

Was Harbaugh a genius at Stanford or was he lucky? I think probably both. As we have seen, he can't replicate that success on demand.

This is the second time I've seen this sentiment posted here (maybe you did it both times).
Regardless, hasn't Harbaugh been wildly successful at all his head coaching stops?  (Along with being wildly a pain in the ass?).

Harbaugh has never had a losing season at Michigan (other than the pandemic-shortened aberration of 2020, when the Wolverines finished 2-4).  His win percentage, at 71%, exceeds Shaw's win percentage at Stanford (70%), and all this in arguably a tougher conference.  Harbaugh's main failing, so far, has been his inability to win a BIG championship and his 0-5 record against Ohio State. His 1-4 record in bowl games is also a blemish.  

Frankly, I think Harbaugh's skill-set was a better fit to 2007 Stanford than 2015 Michigan.  He inherited a moribund program on the Farm, brought in some excellent coaches and squeezed every ounce of potential out of the existing players, while at the same time furiously recruiting excellent future players.  This sense of urgency is what I miss in the current regime.  Michigan's program was underperforming, but was not nearly as broken as Stanford's in 2007.  Brady Hoke had gone 11-2, 8-5, 7-6 and 5-7 before getting the ax.  Further, Michigan is a football blue-blood.  Harbaugh knew that, since he played there.  So Harbaugh's EUTM-style was bound to be less effective than at a program where winning was less consistent and the "champion mindset" less prevalent.  In my view, Harbaugh's success at Stanford was a combination of his being the right man at the right time and, yes, a bit of good fortune, because a number of traditionally-strong programs in the Pac-10 were down (UW and UCLA), and USC was entering a period of turbulence that ultimately got them slapped with sanctions.  The flagship program in the conference was Oregon, and they ensured that Harbaugh failed to win the Pac-10 in his best and final season (2010).

And, yes, Harbaugh is famously rough around the edges.  That personality trait got him canned at the 49ers and has rubbed many players, colleagues, staff members and fans the wrong way.  But his results, so far, are undeniably excellent.