Harbaugh named Stanford coach

PALO ALTO, Calif. – After a two-week search, Stanford hired former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh on Monday to coach its football program.

Harbaugh, 42, comes to Stanford with 15 seasons of NFL playing experience and a wealth of football knowledge, being the son of a longtime college coach.

But the former Palo Alto High School standout has spent only three seasons as a head coach, all at the University of San Diego, a non-scholarship Division I-AA school.

No problem, said former Stanford QB Jim Plunkett.

“I think it’s a good choice,” said Plunkett, the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner. “I think the way he carries himself, he commands respect. He’s an easy guy to talk with, an easy guy to get along with. I don’t see any problem with him relating to kids.”

Under Harbaugh, USD went 29-6 and won the past two mid-major national titles. The Toreros started 2-4 in Harbaugh’s first season, then went 27-2.

“I’ve heard so many good things about him,” former Stanford fullback Tommy Vardell said. “I’ve heard he’s a man on a mission, who is very intense about the game but who balances his intensity with a lot of knowledge of how to deal with people.

“Anybody who has been in the NFL that long is forced to become that person who can adapt to a lot of personalities. Successful quarterbacks are leaders.”

Harbaugh was a three-year starter at Michigan under the late Bo Schembechler, leading the Wolverines to the Fiesta, Holiday and Rose bowls. In 1986, Harbaugh was the Big Ten player of the year and finished third in Heisman balloting.

In Harbaugh’s final eight seasons as a pro, he served as an NCAA-certified assistant coach under his dad, Jack, then the coach at Western Kentucky. Harbaugh was an offensive consultant, scout and recruiter.

When Harbaugh attended Palo Alto High, his father was an assistant coach at Stanford.

Palo Alto coach Earl Hansen called Harbaugh “a winner.”