Michigan's all-time leading rusher is now a coach just a few miles from his place of fame.
↵Mike Hart, who ran for 5,040 yards at Michigan, is now a quality control coach at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, just miles from Ann Arbor.
↵Hart played three seasons in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts and was a free agent this offseason, but was unable to find a team to play for. His first stint as a coach will take some getting used to:
↵↵↵"'Coach Hart! Coach Hart!'" Hart said, chuckling. "Every time the players say that, I just laugh to myself. It's weird."
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The job reunites Hart with former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English, who is the head coach for the Eagles. English is pleased to have him on his staff and has noticed Hart's work ethic, which sometimes involves not leaving the office until 10:30 at night:
↵↵↵"Mike is a hard-working guy," English said. "We don't have the support staff other places have, so he and the other GA's (graduate assistants) throw away garbage and do a lot of grunt work. I love having him here. He's smart, and he has a great way with players, and he's done a great job so far."
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Hart played four seasons at Michigan from 2004-2007, rushing for a Michigan-best 5,040 yards and 41 touchdowns, which is third on the all-time list. He set the freshman record by rushing for 1,455 yards in 2004 and finished fifth in the Heisman voting in 2006.
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