Andrew Gentry left his LDS mission in Orem, Utah to become a Michigan Wolverine after a 45-minute Zingerman's meeting with Jim Harbaugh. Now a national champion and Ross School of Business student, he unpacks the mindset mantras behind the program's dynasty — and why every one of them applies outside the stadium.
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Key takeaways
- Harbaugh flew to Orem, Utah mid-mission to recruit Gentry — the commitment was made at a fast-food restaurant in 45 minutes.
- Bo Schembechler's twin mantras — 'the team, the team, the team' and 'those who stay will be champions' — remain the foundation of Michigan's program identity.
- Michigan football players spend more time in film and meetings each day than they do practicing on the field.
- Harbaugh's core mindset principle: 'Don't get bitter, get better — change the I to an E.'
- The 'Michigan versus everybody' mentality is a deliberate strategy to neutralize outside noise, including from the fan base.
- Coach Moore's locker-room framework — the process, the pursuit, the standard — carries the culture forward after Harbaugh's departure to the NFL.
- A strong organizational culture outlasts any individual leader; the values, not the personality, drive sustained success.
From Littleton, Colorado to Ann Arbor: An Unlikely Journey
Andrew Gentry grew up in Littleton, Colorado and committed to the University of Virginia out of Columbine High School — largely because head coach Bronco Mendenhall understood what a two-year LDS mission actually entails. Eighteen months into that mission in Orem, Utah, Mendenhall unexpectedly stepped down. Gentry’s father called Jim Harbaugh, who picked up on the second ring. A week later, Harbaugh flew to Orem, sat down with Gentry at Taco Bell in the University Mall for 45 minutes, and made it official: Gentry was a Michigan Wolverine — a commitment sealed while still wearing a missionary name tag.
The Culture That Built a Dynasty
Gentry traces Michigan’s championship DNA to two phrases instilled by legendary coach Bo Schembechler and carried forward by Harbaugh:
- “The team, the team, the team” — no individual, coach, or star is above the collective.
- “Those who stay will be champions” — after going 2–4 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the players who stayed delivered back-to-back Big Ten titles in 2021 and 2022, then the 2023 national championship.
He adds a third mantra from Harbaugh: “Don’t get bitter, get better — change the I to an E.” When adversity hits, bitterness produces zero growth; channeling that energy into improvement compounds over time.
Process Over Prize: Tuning Out External Noise
Playing in the 110,000-seat “Big House” — the largest venue in North America — means every mistake is seen by millions. Gentry’s answer: “Michigan versus everybody.” The program deliberately ignores fan sentiment, social media pile-ons, and outside narratives, keeping focus internal. Coach Sherrone Moore reinforced this with a three-part locker-room standard: the process, the pursuit, the standard.
What Elite Preparation Actually Looks Like
The biggest shock moving from high school to Michigan football wasn’t the physical demand — it was the cognitive load. The team spends more time in film sessions and meetings (1:30–4:00 p.m.) than it does practicing on the field. Gentry calls it “getting the answers to the test before you take the test.” Michigan also employs three full-time nutritionists plus six interns who track body composition and personalize fueling plans, while position-specific strength programming replaces generic lifting.
The Harbaugh-to-Moore Transition
Because Moore was already on staff and had absorbed Harbaugh’s culture, the transition was seamless in terms of values — even as the two coaches have very different personalities. The lesson Gentry draws for any organization: a strong culture outlasts any single leader. As long as the values are embedded in the team, a change at the top doesn’t destabilize the whole.
Life After Football: Sales, Business, and the Long Game
Studying at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Gentry is targeting a career in sales — drawn by the people-facing nature of the role and a father who spent his career in it. He has roughly a year and a half of undergraduate work remaining and retains one additional year of athletic eligibility, leaving the door open for a run at the next level.
Don't get bitter, get better — change the I to an E.
— Andrew Gentry (attributing Jim Harbaugh)
Those who stay will be champions.
— Andrew Gentry (attributing Bo Schembechler)
It's getting the answers to the test before you take the test.
— Andrew Gentry
The process, the pursuit, the standard.
— Andrew Gentry (attributing Coach Moore)
Episode chapters
- 00:12 — Welcome & Introductions
- 01:34 — Andrew's Background: Littleton, Colorado to Michigan
- 03:22 — The Harbaugh Recruiting Story: Meeting on a Mission
- 08:03 — Building a Culture of Winning: 'The Team, The Team, The Team'
- 13:00 — 2023 Rose Bowl & National Championship Memories
- 15:25 — Core Lesson: 'Don't Get Bitter, Get Better'
- 20:05 — Handling External Noise: Michigan vs. Everybody
- 23:48 — Harbaugh-to-Moore Transition & Culture Continuity
- 29:07 — Elite Preparation: Film, Nutrition & Position-Specific Training
- 34:36 — Business Ambitions: Ross School of Business & Sales Career
- 40:05 — Final Thoughts: The Process, the Pursuit, the Standard
Frequently asked questions
How did Jim Harbaugh recruit Andrew Gentry while he was on his mission?
After Gentry's original head coach at Virginia (Bronco Mendenhall) stepped down, Gentry's father called Harbaugh, who agreed to fly to Orem, Utah. Harbaugh met Gentry at a local restaurant for 45 minutes and secured his commitment — all while Gentry was still actively serving his LDS mission.
What does 'the team, the team, the team' mean at Michigan?
The phrase originates with legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler and means no individual player, coach, or star is placed above the collective. It is displayed throughout the team facility and remains central to how Michigan's program operates.
How did Michigan football recover from its 2–4 COVID season in 2020?
The program leaned on the mantra 'those who stay will be champions.' Players who remained through that difficult year became the core of teams that won Big Ten titles in 2021 and 2022 and the national championship in 2023.
What is the 'process over prize' philosophy in Michigan football?
Rather than fixating on championship outcomes, the program focuses on daily improvement, teamwork, and holding a high standard. Coach Moore's version distills it to three words: the process, the pursuit, the standard.
How much of Michigan football's preparation involves film study vs. on-field practice?
According to Gentry, the team holds meetings and film sessions from roughly 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. each day, which is more time than they spend in actual on-field practice (typically 90 minutes to two hours).
What is Andrew Gentry studying at Michigan and what are his career plans?
Gentry is studying business at the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business, where all undergrads receive the same general business degree. He is most interested in pursuing a career in sales and has approximately a year and a half of school remaining.