ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Since missing a bowl game with a 5-7 record in 2014, Michigan football has returned to the upper tier of college football with 20 wins in two seasons under Jim Harbaugh and his staff.
It's clear Michigan plans to keep competing for playoff appearances in the future after signing its defensive and offensive coordinators to huge deals.
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The school agreed Sunday to a five-year extension with defensive coordinator Don Brown that will pay him $1.4 million annually, according to Fox Sports.
Offensive coordinator Tim Drevno received a five-year deal Tuesday worth $1 million annually, according to Fox Sports.
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The Wolverines have watched some of their most valuable assistant coaches under Harbaugh leave for promotions at others schools, including former defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin -- now the head coach of Maryland -- and passing game coordinator Jedd Fisch, who will become UCLA's offensive coordinator.
The Big Ten has been known as a conference unwilling to pay assistant coaches as much as schools from other conferences, but Michigan is proving it's willing to open the pocketbook to compete at the highest level.
After joining Michigan last offseason, Brown's aggressive defense finished second in the country behind Alabama in terms of points and yards allowed. He also helped in the maturation of players like Channing Stribling, Mike McCray and Taco Charlton at all levels of the defense.
Drevno has been with Michigan since Harbaugh arrived two seasons ago, and has been working to improve an inconsistent offensive line. Though players like Kyle Kalis and Erik Magnuson earned individual awards, the line as a whole has room for improvement going into 2017. Drevno will have to work on a unit losing three fifth-year seniors.
The Wolverines will lose dozens of seniors before the 2017 season, but with the talented recruiting classes adding up and a strong coaching staff intact, Michigan plans to continue competing for national titles.