This is the second in a two-part look at the career and family life of Marquette associate athletic director Jack Harbaugh.

Special teams has made a millionaire out of Desmond Howard, who parlayed his MVP performance in Super Bowl XXXI as a kickoff returner into a huge contract with the Oakland Raiders. Special teams turned a dire situation for the Tennessee Titans into a Super Bowl run in 2000 that ended a few feet short of the goal line. Special teams made a coaching legend out of Mike Ditka, who coached special teams with the Dallas Cowboys before becoming head coach of the Chicago Bears. A kickoff returned for a touchdown or a blocked punt could mean the difference between a season ending early and a season going into late January.

Special teams has also made John Harbaugh a coaching mainstay with the Philadelphia Eagles.

In his eighth year with the franchise, Harbaugh has become one of the most respected special teams coaches in football. How the times have changed since Harbaugh's dad Jack began coaching in the sport.

"When we ran special teams, we rehearsed it. It was 'find me 11 guys,'" said Harbaugh, Marquette associate athletic director. "Now it is coached and is as integral to football as offense or defense."

Another sign of the evolution of football, John makes a living by coaching an aspect of the team that was never given second notice during the early days of his dad's coaching careers. Jack's other son, Jim, runs the West Coast Offense, a scheme Jack never employed.

"Football is different now," Jack said. "When I coached it was three yards and a cloud of dust. We would throw the ball 12 times a game near the line of scrimmage. With Jim he could throw the ball 12 times just in the first quarter.

"John is light years away from anything I have ever done in terms of special teams."

A former coach, Harbaugh now assumes the role of cheering dad. On a Saturday night in mid-October, Harbaugh and his wife Jackie were in Philadelphia for an Eagles game and resorted to listening to Jim's San Diego game over the Internet in their hotel room at 1a.m.

"There we are sitting in a chair, listening to a computer," Jack said. "And by the time the game is done you're drained. And when you go to bed you are trying to visualize everything going on in the game. I sat there and went, 'Well, we've come a long way.'"

The roles have switched with Harbaugh in the stands for his two sons and his son-in-law, but he does not assume the role of obtrusive dad.

"Now I stand back and let them enjoy the experiences, both the good and bad," Jack said. "This is their life and you want to let them live it, but you want to be there for them."

Matkovich hosts a show on Marquette Radio with fellow Tribune contributing writer Steve Mathie Thursday nights from 7 to 8 p.m.