Recruitment infractions were found during an examination of the Michigan football team under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the NCAA said on Tuesday.
According to the notice, the university acknowledged the infractions and consented to pay a fine, undergo three years of probation, and have recruiting restrictions in place in accordance with the school’s Level I-Mitigated designation.
In response to the news, Warde Manuel, the athletic director of Michigan, issued the following statement:
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel: "We are pleased to reach a resolution on this matter so that our student-athletes and our football program can move forward. We have no additional information and cannot comment further on other aspects of the NCAA’s inquiries."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) April 16, 2024
“Five individuals who currently or previously worked for its football program” reportedly consented to the infractions and associated sanctions. But the statement also stated,
 “One former coach did not participate in the agreement, and that portion of the case will be considered separately by the Committee on Infractions, after which the committee will release its full decision.”
How much trouble is Jim Harbaugh in ?
The release only mentioned Harbaugh in passing, referring to him as “the former football head coach.” The settlement included the university’s acknowledgement that Harbaugh “failed to meet his responsibility to cooperate with the investigation” and that “the underlying violations demonstrated a head coach responsibility violation.”
In a statement, Harbaugh’s counsel asserted that his client’s involvement in the case ought to have come to an end when he sent “a lengthy response” to the notice of allegations:
Received this from Tom Mars, attorney for former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, after today’s NCAA decision. pic.twitter.com/vdaSngrQnD
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) April 16, 2024
During his nine seasons as Michigan’s coach, Harbaugh guided the team to three conference crowns as well as the 2023 national championship—the program’s first since 1997. He accepted a head coaching post with the Los Angeles Chargers and returned to the NFL after the 2023 season.
