One day after reports surfaced that the NCAA has drafted a notice of allegations against seven staff members of the 2023 Michigan football team, Jim Harbaugh forcefully denied participating in or knowing of any wrongdoing.
Harbaugh, now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, guided the Wolverines to the national championship last winter before leaving the program for the NFL. Harbaugh appeared to read a prepared statement at a news conference at the Chargers’ practice facility Monday.
“Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal. I was raised with that lesson,” Harbaugh said. “I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams that I have coached. No one is perfect. If you stumble, you apologize and you make it right. Today, I do not apologize. I did not participate, was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations. So, it’s back to work and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”
The draft document accuses not only Harbaugh of a violation, but also his successor, Sherrone Moore, the offensive coordinator of last year’s team.
Moore is accused of committing a Level 2 violation, according to the draft. That would make him a potential repeat violator by the NCAA, given that he contacted recruits during a COVID-19 recruiting dead period.
Per the draft, which is subject to change with its final version, Moore could face a show-cause penalty and possibly a suspension. It is alleged he deleted a string of 52 text messages between himself and former Michigan staff member Connor Stalions in October 2023. Stalions was at the center of a sign-stealing scheme and later resigned.
Harbaugh is accused of committing a Level 1 violation for not cooperating with the NCAA because he allegedly denied their request to view his phone records that could have been relevant to the case. A Level 1 violation is the NCAA’s most serious class of infraction.
Harbaugh served a self-imposed three-game suspension at the start of last season because of recruiting violations. He then was suspended for three games at the end of the regular season due to the sign-stealing scandal.
Despite all that, Michigan went 15-0 and won its first national championship since 1997.
The draft document also names Jesse Minter and Steve Clinkscale, who followed Harbaugh from Michigan to become the Chargers’ defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, respectively. Minter, Clinkscale and former Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partridge (now with the Seattle Seahawks) are accused of various recruiting violations.
