Michigan gives Jim Harbaugh three-game suspension
Update:
Michigan has suspended head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games amid an NCAA investigation into potential recruiting violations, according to Josh Henschke of Rivals. Harbaugh has gone back and forth with the NCAA regarding a potential suspension, but an agreement was never finalized. Instead, the University of Michigan has suspended Harbaugh for the entirety of its out-of-conference schedule.
Original Post from 9/12/23:
In a turn of events, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is expected to coach the entire 2023 season. Harbaugh and the NCAA agreed to a four-game suspension amid an investigation into recruiting violations; however, the deal fell apart before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions approved it. Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports was the first to report the deal’s collapse.
Harbaugh’s punishment will now be resolved through the NCAA disciplinary system and will continue to move through the process. The expected resolution is expected to come during the 2024 offseason, per Wetzel.
The NCAA began investigating Michigan for a variety of recruiting violations. This included meeting with recruits during the COVID-19 dead period, messaging a recruit outside of a permitted window, having coaches watch workouts over Zoom and having analysts participate in on-field coaching.
In the midst of the investigation, the NCAA alleged that Harbaugh was not truthful. Harbaugh denied lying to the NCAA and claimed he did not remember all of the details fully. The inability or unwillingness to provide fully accurate information is what led to Harbaugh’s suspension, not the recruiting violations themselves.
Haurbaugh’s agreement with the NCAA also included punishments for several assistance coaches and former staff members.
Harbaugh will now be eligible to be on the sideline for Michigan’s season opener against East Carolina on Sept. 2, 2023. That extends to the University’s following games against UNLV, Bowling Green and Rutgers.
Jim Harbaugh was likely able to avoid a suspension for the 2023 season, but this will not be the final step in resolving his conflict with the NCAA.
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