Michigan鈥檚 Mike Hart continues to impact football decades after rushing records
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (BVM) — Close to two decades since his playing days, Mike Hart鈥檚 impact on high school football in New York can still be felt. The former Onondaga star’s high school career has continued to be the pinnacle for players chasing his rushing records, as Hart still sits atop the .听听
Currently working at the University of Michigan as the team鈥檚 running backs coach, Hart has a new set of challenges he鈥檚 aiming for in his return to his alma mater. The newest running backs coach has already set the tone for his position group, with the Wolverines leaning heavily on the running game throughout their perfect 6-0 start.
鈥淚鈥檓 just going to work,鈥� . 鈥淚 tell people all the time, the way I coach is the way I play. I like winning, I don鈥檛 like losing. So, when I鈥檓 a player I want to win. When I do anything I want to win. When I play video games with my son, I want to win. And I鈥檓 going to do everything I can to win.鈥�
Before heading off to play at Michigan back in 2004, Hart enjoyed a record–breaking high school career, as the running back set national records for rushing touchdowns. His career rushing yards of 11,045 and two individual seasons rushing for 3,489 and 3,341 yards still top the state鈥檚 all-time career and single season records and place him second all-time in career rushing yards nationally.
Hart continued his play at the next level, recording more than 5,000 career rushing yards as he garnered national attention with a fifth place finish for the Heisman Trophy. His 117.2 rushing yards per game still top the program’s history. Hart would continue his play at the next level after a brief stint in the NFL.
Once his playing career came to an end, Hart would make the rounds as a coach beginning with stops at Eastern and Western Michigan before a season as the running backs coach at Syracuse.
Hart鈥檚 rise in the coaching ranks would continue when he started a new position at Indiana as the running backs and associate head coach. The former Central New York star was an integral part in , who had helped the Hoosiers to the No. 12 spot in AP rankings during the 2020 season.聽
Hart鈥檚 success with the Wolverines program comes after a rough patch in recent years for Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. So far throughout his first season, Hart and the offense have left an early impact on the program, with the rushing attack ranking top-10 nationally.
鈥淐oach Hart has been phenomenal ever since he stepped in this building,鈥� . 鈥淗e helps me with everything. In practice I鈥檒l be like, 鈥楬ey Coach, what would you have done right here?鈥� And he鈥檚 always giving me good advice on what he sees and [I] just take his advice.鈥�
As Hart aims to bring his alma mater back to the top, the former star running back can still take pride in his old accomplishments remaining intact.聽
