Michigan reached deal with NCAA for recruiting infractions

Michigan will serve three years of NCAA probation, pay a fine, and face recruiting restrictions after reaching an agreement with the NCAA’s enforcement staff on recruiting violations and coaching activities by non-coaching staff members, according to an NCAA announcement released Tuesday.

The agreed-upon sanctions also include a one-year show-cause order for the involved parties.

The Committee on Infractions will evaluate the section of the case involving former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers in late January, separately before making its final decision, according to an NCAA release.

Harbaugh’s attorney, Tom Mars, told ESPN that neither he nor Harbaugh were aware of the agreement until they saw media stories on Tuesday. Although Mars does not know whether Harbaugh would have participated, they were ignorant of the case-resolution negotiations.

Michigan agreed to violations involving impermissible in-person recruiting contacts during a COVID-19 dead period, impermissible tryouts, and the program exceeding the number of allowed countable coaches when noncoaching staff members engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities (including teaching players technical and tactical skills).

“Today’s joint resolution pertains to the University of Michigan Athletic Department and several former and current employees,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a prepared statement. “We are delighted to have reached an agreement on this issue so that our student-athletes and football team can move ahead. We have no further information and cannot comment on other areas of the NCAA’s investigations.”

Michigan and its staff members who were engaged may “immediately begin serving their penalties while awaiting the committee’s final decision on the remaining contested portion of the case.”

“Per NCAA protocol, we are not identifying individuals,” Michigan assistant athletic director Kurt Svoboda told ESPN. “I can note that no further game restrictions will be served by anyone who is still on the U-M staff.”

Sherrone Moore, Michigan’s first-year coach, was suspended for the season opener last season while serving as offensive coordinator as part of the school’s self-imposed NCAA rules violations. Harbaugh also served a three-game ban to begin the 2023 season due to NCAA recruiting violations.

According to the NCAA, Michigan acknowledged that the underlying infractions revealed “a head coach responsibility violation, and the former football head coach failed to meet his responsibility to cooperate with the investigation.” The institution also admitted that it failed to prohibit and detect inappropriate recruiting interactions and did not “ensure that the football program adheres to rules for noncoaching staff members.”

The committee’s final conclusion, which includes possible breaches and fines for Harbaugh, is pending.

Michigan is also under NCAA investigation for an elaborate off-campus sign-stealing scheme orchestrated by former staffer Connor Stalions. The NCAA’s enforcement staff informed Michigan officials and the Big Ten of the allegations on October 18, 2023. The NCAA-Michigan agreement, revealed on Tuesday, was unrelated.