Jim Harbaugh is a builder.
Every offseason Harbaugh makes a pilgrimage to Peru where among other things he helps build homes for those less fortunate.
This isn't all that different from what Harbaugh does in his day job as a head football coach. Whether the location has been the University of San Diego, Stanford University or now the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh has been a builder, but instead of building homes Harbaugh has build football teams.
And those football teams have won.
For all the winning that Harbaugh has done at each stop there has been a similar theme, none of his previous stops has been all that sad to see him go. This is a byproduct of Harbaugh's personality, he grinds on those around him to the point that they no longer want to deal with him.
The 49ers went into this season with numerous reports of internal strife between the coach and various members of the front office coming out of Santa Clara. As the season has progressed those reports have not died down, instead they have grown stronger. Jed York's now infamous tweet in the waning moments of the loss to Seattle on Thursday night the most recent catalyst.
It's beginning to look as though Harbaugh will not be back to coach the 49ers next season, and a common phrase heard among those who follow the 49ers has been, "guess they don't care about winning."
It makes sense to say that, only one NFL coach has won more games than Harbaugh since 2011, however those who say that are missing two prime examples of teams who have done just what may happen with the 49ers.
I'll start with the simple example, Stanford. After Harbaugh left for San Francisco he was replaced by former assistant David Shaw. In his first three seasons on the Farm, Shaw led the Cardinal to three straight BCS bowl games including back to back Pac 12 championships for the first time since 1970 and 1971.
Harbaugh had built the program up and Shaw was able to keep it going.
The second example, and the one that I see as most similar to what is happening with the 49ers, took place across the bay.
After reaching the playoffs only one time in 17 seasons the Golden State Warriors hired Mark Jackson as their head coach in 2011. After failing to reach the playoffs again in Jackson's first season, a strike shortened year, the Warriors reached the Western Conference playoffs in after the 2012-2013 season. Not only did they make the playoffs, but the Jackson led Warriors upset the Denver Nuggets in round one, before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round.
The next season was met with increased expectations. Many felt that the Warriors were in position to improve on the success from the season before. That never really materialized as the team won only four more game during the regular season and was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.
Throughout the season there were signs of discord between the front office and Jackson, with Jackson removing two of his coaches during the season, one of whom was a favorite of the front office. The term used by many to describe the atmosphere around the Warriors was dysfunctional.
As word began to leak out that the Warriors would probably be moving on from Jackson at the end of the season unless they went deep into the playoffs many who follow the team said, "guess they don't care about winning."
Sound familiar?
A funny thing has happened though. With a new man at the helm in Steve Kerr, whose head coaching experience in the NBA consisted of working with the Warriors summer league team, the Warriors are off to the best start in franchise history with a record of 14-2.
Gone is the internal fighting. Gone is the dysfunction. And they are winning like crazy.
Perhaps it's time for the 49ers to move on from Jim Harbaugh.
Sometimes change makes you better.
