NCAA slaps former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh with four-year show-cause order for 'unethical conduct'

An NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions panel has ruled on a case involving Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, issuing a four-year show-cause order and a one-season suspension to the ex-Wolverines coach.

The case is not related to the alleged sign-stealing investigation that is ongoing and for which the Wolverines expect to formally receive a Notice of Allegations soon.

Instead, this case involves Michigan and five individuals who currently or previously worked for the football program who earlier reached an agreement with NCAA enforcement staff on violations concerning both recruiting and coaching activities by non-coaching staff members that occurred within the football program.

As part of the agreement, Michigan agreed that it failed to properly monitor the football program.

However, Jim Harbaugh was not part of an earlier agreement that allowed some parties to the case to immediately begin serving their penalties. Harbaugh’s part and consequence were revealed on Wednesday.

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 by a NCAA institution 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.

Harbaugh, of course, left Michigan after winning the 2023 national title, taking a job as the head coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.