Jim Harbaugh to give commencement speech at Rashan Gary’s graduation
You can take away satellite camps but you can’t take away Jim Harbaugh from speaking at high school graduation ceremonies.
This has been the offseason of Jim Harbaugh as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines has been a consistent presence in the news cycle. It all started on National Signing Day when Harbaugh held a Signing with the Stars event to celebrate the incoming recruiting class who got to brush shoulders with the likes of Tom Brady, Derek Jeter and Ric Flair, among others.
Michigan landed the commitment from the nation’s No. 1 recruit Rashan Gary that afternoon and also announced plans to bring his team to Florida to hold spring practices on the campus of IMG Academy. This was the start of the end for satellite camps that were banned by the NCAA last week.
While many Michigan and Big Ten players have been critical of the new rule, Harbaugh may have found a new loophole he can use to his advantage to reach prospective student-athletes.
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Harbaugh will deliver the commencement address at Gary’s high school graduation this spring at Paramus Catholic High School in New Jersey on June 9, according to NorthJersey.com.
“Commencement is an academic ceremony. It’s not connected to athletics,” school president Jim Vail said. “But I have gotten to know Coach Harbaugh pretty well. I’m not a football guy, but I know a great educator when I see one, and he always impressed me as a great educator and great leader.”
In addition to Gary, Michigan has developed a pipeline from Paramus Catholic to Ann Arbor in recent years with former five-star athlete Jabrill Peppers, offensive lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty and former Paramus head coach Chris Partridge joining Harbaugh’s staff as the linebackers coach.
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This won’t be the first commencement speech Harbaugh has delivered since he delivered the speech at Coronado High School in California where his son James was graduating.
While in New Jersey, Harbaugh is sure to make an impression on top 2017 recruits, outside linebacker Drew Singleton and four-star defensive lineman Corey Bolds.