The head coach is not likely to be the last football coaching position at the University of Michigan to receive an endowment and name, Denise Ilitch, a member of the U-M Board of Regents, suggested Friday.
Ilitch said a naming rights sponsorship for U-M’s offensive coordinator’s job was in the works, though she did not reveal any other information. Ilitch made her comment during taping of Carol Cain's “Michigan Matters,” TV show, which airs at 11:30 a.m. Sunday on CBS 62 in Detroit.
The regents this week agreed to rename the head football coaching position after J. Ira and Nicki Harris, who made a $10 million donation to the athletic department. The position, now held by Brady Hoke, will known as the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach on stationery and in other official matters, though Hoke will continue to be referred to as the coach on a daily basis.
Ilitch, who joined the seven other regents in approving the Harris endowment, raised a question about the dangers of over-commercializing Michigan athletics.
“Ten million dollars is a lot of money and can do to a lot of good things,” she said. “I applaud the Harris family for making the donation.”
“It’s just a slippery slope. I only want to be the voice of caution."
