Trent Baalke claims Jim Harbaugh always had interest in becoming head coach at Michigan.

"The head coach at the University of Michigan is a heck of a football job," Baalke said Wednesday at the NFL combine, "and I know that's something he's always wanted to do."

Harbaugh recently disputed the notion that his parting with the San Francisco 49ers was a mutual decision.

"I was told I wouldn't be the coach anymore," Harbaugh said in the interview. "I wasn't going to put the 49ers in a position where they had a coach they didn't want anymore.

"That's the truth of it. I didn't leave the 49ers, I felt like the 49er hierarchy left me."

"I have no response to that," Baalke said. "Jim's moved on, we've moved on. He's got a heck of a job, and we've got a new football coach, and we're trying to get ready for the draft, free agency and the offseason."

Mark Helfrich has signed a $17.5 million contract extension with Oregon through 2019.

"Mark has provided tremendous leadership of our football program and the values and character that he insists upon are in line with our mission as an institution," Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said in a statement. "The success of our student-athletes on the field and in the classroom will continue with Mark's leadership and we are thrilled that he will stay at home in Oregon for a long time to come."

Helfrich led Oregon to the College Football Playoff National Championship in his second with the Ducks.

Byron Cowart has committed to Auburn.

Cowart, a defensive end from Florida, is the No. 1 rated player in the ESPN 300.

Cowart chose Auburn over Florida.

Auburn's lackluster effort on defense last season led to the dismissal of defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson and the hiring of former Florida head coach Will Muschamp.