Hoosiers Now

Michigan Running Backs Coach Mike Hart Carted Off Field After Collapsing in First Quarter

Michigan running backs coach and former Indiana running backs coach Mike Hart was carted off the field in Saturday's homecoming matchup after collapsing on the Wolverines' sideline. He left Memorial Stadium in an ambulance.
Haley Jordan|
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — In the first quarter of Indiana's homecoming matchup versus Michigan, Wolverines' running backs coach Mike Hart collapsed on the Michigan sideline and was carted off the field.

"Mike had a medical emergency during the game," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game. "He's in stable condition. He's going to stay overnight here in Bloomington to continue observation. Mike's a strong guy, prayers go his way. It puts things in perspective."

The incident concerned Indiana, too, as Hart was the Hoosiers' running backs coach in 2017 and the running backs and assistant head coach from 2018-2020.

Hart gave Memorial Stadium a big thumbs up as he left the field on the cart but still remained flat on his back the whole way out. It has not been disclosed what exactly caused him to collapse, but Hart was moving his head when Indiana officials came to check on him.

His Wolverines all rushed to take a knee at the sideline, visibly emotional and distraught by the sudden incident.

View FOX College Football's embedded tweet below:

FOX Sports' Jenny Taft reported: "Coach Mike Hart has left Memorial Stadium in an ambulance for further evaluation with his wife by his side and he was alert on the stretcher, giving the thumbs up."

Hart himself was a starting running back at Michigan from 2004-07 and set the school record for 5,040 yards on 1,015 carries and 41 rushing touchdowns. His success as a Wolverine led him to be drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Hart served primarily as a backup.

While at Indiana, Hart transformed former running back Stevie Scott into an all-conference player. Scott was awarded second team All-Big Ten accolades in the 2019 and 2020 seasons before Hart departed for Michigan. Scott set the Hoosiers' true freshman rushing record with 1,137 yards on 228 attempts and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Indiana coach Tom Allen commented on the scary situation after the game Saturday.

"Prayers for Mike Hart," Allen said. "I don't know the situation. I did talk to Coach Harbaugh at the end of the game. Very close with Mike, talked to him even this week via text before we played him. It sounds like he is going to be okay, but obviously, a concern when he went down. Our hearts for him are heavy for his family. Prayers for them, thoughts for them. We're praying that he is going to have a full recovery."

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Haley Jordan
HALEY JORDAN

Haley Jordan is a Sports Illustrated/FanNation video director, staff writer, host and reporter for Hoosiers Now, Fastball and Fastbreak sites. She is a graduate from Indiana University with degrees in Sports Broadcast Journalism and Spanish.

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