Santa Ono weighs in on keeping Jim Harbaugh, sign-stealing investigation: 'I trust the guy'

The Michigan Wolverines football program gets head coach Jim Harbaugh back this weekend for the Big Ten Championship game while a contract extension that could keep him in Ann Arbor continues to get worked on, despite the NCAA’s illegal sign-stealing operation investigation.

Michigan president Santa Ono spoke on Wednesday at the Detroit Athletic Club in a discussion hosted by WDIV’s Devin Scillian, who asked about the football program and was asked to address the Harbaugh situation and allegations surrounding the program.

“It’s true that he hasn’t been on the sideline for six games, but we won all six of those games,” Ono said. “I want to say, it’s really a credit to him. The coaches talked to me about that situation and said he knows nothing about what happened, and I trust him. He’s a man of honor. Everyone who knows him knows that. It’s an ongoing investigation. We’ll see what happens.

“But I want to say very, very clearly, and it’s no secret to people, that I trust the guy. I think he’s one of the great coaches out there in the NFL or in NCAA, and the football team loves him, and his coaches love him. I think the greatest sign of a great coach is that the team wins whether or not he’s on the sideline.

“I don’t know if you saw that interview right after the Penn State win — it’s a tough game, you know? They thought he was going to be there until that day. Then, did you see the interview with Sherrone (Moore)? He was crying. He said, ‘I love you, coach. I love you, coach.’ Then you listen to J.J. (McCarthy) in the Ohio State game. He said, ‘I love you, coach. We miss you.’ That means something. That speaks volumes as to the kind of coach he is.

“Coach told me that if you coach a team well, it’ll coach itself, and boy, did it ever do that. He also said every single play that Sherrone called would have been the same plays that he would have called. That’s a tribute to the guys. We’ll just wait and see how this whole thing goes. He’s going to be back with us for the game this Saturday, and the next couple of games, and we’re going to get a win, a big win. They say three touchdowns, so I believe that.”

Harbaugh returns this weekend from a three-game suspension imposed by the Big Ten after the sign-stealing allegations came to light on Oct. 19. The investigation has centered around the actions of former analyst Connor Stalions, who purchased tickets to opposing games and is alleged to have sent third-party associates to help scout upcoming opponents.

Stalions resigned on Nov. 3, while Harbaugh was suspended by the conference on Nov. 10 and missed the Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State victories. Ono says that he and Michigan are taking the allegations and investigation seriously and that the focus from him is upholding “ethics and integrity” at the university.

“I’ve never met [Stalions]” Ono said. “Apparently he was in a room that I was in. I don’t know him. I haven’t gotten to the bottom of it because these sorts of investigations, you have to be at arm’s length. The NCAA is actually involved in that, so we’ll let it take its course.

“Certainly, I take it very seriously. This is an academic institution, to be frank, and ethics and integrity are central and core to what we do. They’re a cornerstone of a great university. So, as you know, people who have been found to be involved or to transgress proper processes have been held accountable, and that’s the right thing to do. So, the integrity of the University of Michigan, I take that very, very seriously.”

Michigan is still committed to making Harbaugh the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten, but the temperature on contract talks cooled off after the university was made aware of the investigation.

Ono hopes that Harbaugh and Michigan will continue their relationship well into the future.

“I hope so,” Ono said. “Like I said, we have to wait and see what happens with all these investigations. He is a great coach and means a lot to the institution.”