At a Glance

John Harbaugh is a man who has enjoyed success. As head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, Harbaugh led the team all the way to the AFC Championship game during his first year. Under his leadership as an assistant coach and special teams coach, Harbaugh’s teams consistently ranked among the NFL’s best.

Bio

But his success isn’t limited to the playing field. Harbaugh is a champion at home as well. He met his wife, Ingrid, in 1985. “We met when I was a graduate assistant for my dad (Coach Jack Harbaugh) and Ingrid was a student assistant in the baseball office at Western Michigan University,” Harbaugh recalls. “Ingrid was working in the baseball office when the copy machine broke, and I was there to fix it. That’s how it all started.”Harbaugh knew immediately that Ingrid was “the one.” “I knew from the beginning, because I appreciated the depth of her personality and character,” he said. “We were both young and still figuring out where we stood on things. I knew she had a good heart.” So, during a recruiting trip, Harbaugh made a side trip to a jewelry store. “I picked out a ring and put in on the trunk of a little stuffed elephant doll. When I gave her the elephant, she saw the ring on its trunk. I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me.” When Harbaugh became a father, his world expanded. He’ll never forget how he felt when he saw his daughter, Alison for the first time, “I just felt a sense of awe for creation, and the fact that God created her – and I still feel that way every time I see her now.” John and Ingrid are committed to raising their daughter by modeling the principles that they strongly believe in. “In faith and providence,” said Harbaugh, “and in such a way that she grows to know God. We try to set an example for her so that she will know what loving parents are.” That example of love was set for Harbaugh by his own father. “He is supportive of everything we do, and he is willing to challenge us and help us,” Harbaugh said. “He goes out of his way to be there for us and be a part of our lives. We are best friends.” When he’s not on the field, John Harbaugh is with his family. “We like to read, play tetherball in the backyard… all sports, really,” he said. “We pretty much do everything together as a family.”

So, what advice would Harbaugh give to other fathers?“Be there…. care… and put your children first in your life. When you are given the awesome responsibility of being a father, that is the most important responsibility you can have. God wants us to have a loving relationship with our kids, and help them grow… just like God’s relationship with us.”

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