It’s been widely known (at least in Michigan football circles) that the NCAA has been looking to make an example of former Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, and now it looks like it is doing just that.
In January 2023, it was revealed that the NCAA was investigating Harbaugh for recruiting violations and instead of eventually issuing a Level II, consistent with the violation, the NCAA dug in deeper stating that Harbaugh misled investigators in the process. Michigan attempted to get ahead of it by suspending Harbaugh for the first three games of the 2023 season, however, the governing body rejected the suspension as penance and continued to seek reprisal as it went deeper into the investigation.
According to The Detroit News’ Angelique Chengelis, Harbaugh is being issued a show-cause for four years and a one-year suspension if he were to return to college football.
Former Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh has been punished by the NCAA with a four-year show-cause order and a one-year suspension for violating head-coach responsibility obligations, “unethical conduct” and a failure to promote “an atmosphere of compliance” for his role in an investigation into impermissible recruiting in 2021 during a COVID-19 dead period.
The NCAA released its final 52-page public decision from the Division I Committee on Infractions on Wednesday and said Harbaugh failed to “meet his responsibility to cooperate with the investigation.” The show-cause order is from Aug. 7, 2024, through Aug. 6, 2028, and if hired during the show-cause order, Harbaugh would be suspended for 100% of the first season of employment.
Harbaugh, of course, is no longer in college football as he took the Los Angeles Chargers job in the NFL this offseason. Per the report, Harbaugh can choose to appeal this ruling — which, despite no longer being in the college ranks, he is likely to do.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Detroit News: NCAA issues a show-cause to Jim Harbaugh for recruiting violations
