Jim Harbaugh lawyer Tom Mars calls out NCAA's 'kangaroo court' findings after show-cause order

Jim Harbaugh‘s attorney has released a cheeky statement following news that the former Michigan coach had been issued a four-year show-cause order and a one-year suspension by the NCAA.

The NCAA announced the punishments on Wednesday as the final stage of resolution for a case involving alleged recruiting and contact violations during the COVID-19 dead period.

Attorney Tom Mars struck back.

“The way I see it, from Coach Harbaugh’s perspective, today’s COI decision is like being in college and getting a letter from your high school saying you’ve been suspended because you didn’t sign the yearbook,” a statement from Mars read.

“If I were in coach Harbaugh’s shoes and had an $80 million contract as head coach of the Chargers, I wouldn’t pay attention to the findings of a kangaroo court which claims to represent the principles of the nation’s most flagrant, repeat violator of the federal antitrust laws.”

RELATED: NCAA slaps Jim Harbaugh with suspension, show-cause order

Jim Harbaugh was issued the show-cause order and suspension as the final resolution to a case that stemmed from alleged recruiting and coaching activities by non-coaching staff members.

The violations Harbaugh is now being penalized for had to do with impermissible recruiting contacts and inducements during the COVID-19 dead period. An NCAA report indicated that Harbaugh’s violations are Level II violations, but “his unethical conduct and failure to cooperate with the membership’s infraction process” rose to a Level I violation.

The NCAA specifically noted that Harbaugh provided “false or misleading information.”

Due to the nature of Harbaugh’s “intentional disregard for NCAA legislation and unethical conduct,” the severity of the case was amplified and the Division I Committee on Infractions elevated Harbaugh’s case to a Level I-Aggravated status.

As a part of his show-cause order, Jim Harbaugh has also been suspended for one full season of competition, meaning if he is hired during the show-cause order he would have to sit out a full season as penalty. Even after that, Harbaugh would be “barred from all athletically related activities, including team travel, practice, video study, recruiting and team meetings” for the length of the show-cause order.

Given Mars’ response and the new restrictions on Harbaugh, it’s probably a safe bet to say he’s not headed back to the college level any time soon.