John Harbaugh

John Harbaugh signed as the 3rd head coach in Baltimore Ravens history on January 19, 2008. He served as the Eagles' secondary coach in 2007, after leading the Eagles' special teams for 9 seasons (1998-2006).  Originally a Ray Rhodes hire in 1998, he was one of only 4 assistants invited by Andy Reid in 1999 to remain in Philadelphia, the only NFL team for which he has coached.

Under his leadership, Harbaugh's special teams units were consistently ranked among the NFL's best. From 2000-04, Philadelphia was the only team to rank in the top 10 in the comprehensive annual special teams report created by The Dallas Morning News' Rick Gosselin. (Gosselin's report is recognized by NFL teams as the special teams measuring stick.) In 2001 and 2003, the Eagles were ranked 1st by Gosselin, who compiles his report based on 22 kicking-game categories. Following the 2001 season, Harbaugh was voted the NFL's Special Teams Coach of the Year by his coaching peers. He was also named The Dallas Morning News Special Teams Coach of the Year that season. In just 4 years (1998 to 2001), Harbaugh elevated the Eagles' special teams units from 29th to 1st in the league.

Over the course of 6 seasons (2000-05), his teams were cumulatively ranked 1st in the NFL. Three of his assistants were selected to become special teams coordinators (Rory Segrest, Philadelphia; Dave Toub, Chicago; Ted Daisher, Oakland and Cleveland) for NFL teams.

In 1999, Philadelphia signed K David Akers, who had been working part-time as a waiter at a Longhorn Steakhouse in Georgia after a few brief stints with Carolina, Atlanta and Washington.  Harbaugh's tutelage helped Akers become a 3-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the NFL's most reliable kickers.  His 82.4 FG pct. (173 of 210) ranked 10th in the NFL from 1999-2006.  Harbaugh also worked with Eagles P Dirk Johnson, another "street" free agent, helping him record the top 2 net punting averages (38.4 in 2005 and 37.4 in 2004) in Eagles history.

In 9 seasons as special teams coordinator, Harbaugh's players earned 15 NFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards: Akers (7), Brian Mitchell (3), Sean Landeta (2), Brian Westbrook (1), Jevon Kearse (1) and Allen Rossum (1). Under Harbaugh, Philadelphia returner Reno Mahe led the NFL in 2005 with a 12.8 punt return average, while long snapper Mike Bartrum became the 3rd Eagles' special teamer to earn a Pro Bowl berth (Akers and Ike Reese were the others).

Prior to joining the Eagles in 1998, Harbaugh spent more than a decade coaching in the collegiate ranks. He began his coaching experience as a running backs/outside linebackers coach for Western Michigan (1984-86) under his father, Jack, who was the school's head coach. John earned his master's degree in physical education while there. He then moved on to the University of Pittsburgh (1987) to coach the Panthers' tight ends, under current ESPN college football analyst Mike Gottfried.

Harbaugh spent another 1-year stint in college, this time as Morehead State's special teams/secondary/ strength and conditioning coach (1988). He made an immediate impact: The defense allowed 12 fewer points per game, and special teams produced 5 blocked punts.

He joined the University of Cincinnati in 1989 and performed a number of different roles: special teams coordinator (1989-96); tight ends coach (1989-91, 1993-94); recruiting coordinator (1989-93); outside linebackers (1992); and running backs (1995-96). Harbaugh's coaching versatility propelled him to become the school's assistant head coach in 1995. Over 7 years, he recruited 27 starters for Cincinnati. The Bearcats had the nation's top-ranked kickoff returner (former Raven Robert Tate, 34.3 KOR avg.) in 1995 and the 2nd-ranked return man (Chris Hewitt, 31.5 KOR avg.) in 1993. Harbaugh was also part of the 1st Cincinnati team in 20 years to produce 3 out of 4 winning seasons (1993, 1995-96).

In 1997, John spent a year on Cam Cameron's Indiana University staff as its defensive backs/special teams coach before launching his NFL coaching career in Philadelphia.

Harbaugh earned his political science degree at Miami (Ohio).  His father, Jack, a 41-year coaching veteran, won the 2002 Division I-AA National Championship as Western Kentucky's head coach. A year later, Jack was named Marquette's associate athletic director, overseeing community affairs and public relations.  John's younger brother, Jim, who is the current Stanford head coach, played 14 seasons as a quarterback in the NFL, including the 1998 campaign for the Ravens. John's brother-in-law, Tom Crean, the Indiana head basketball coach, is married to his sister Joani.

John, who was born 9/23/62 in Perrysburg, OH, attended Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer HS. He and his wife, Ingrid, have a daughter, Alison (6).