ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh heard from the NCAA on Wednesday given a four-year show-cause order. This order bans Harbaugh from collegiate athletics until August 2028.

The NCAA said that Harbaugh “engaged in unethical conduct, failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance, and violated head coach responsibility obligations” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Harbaugh had impermissible contact with recruits and players during the pandemic when it was restricted. The panel investigating this violation noted, “Harbaugh’s intentional disregard for NCAA legislation and unethical conduct amplified the severity of the case and prompted the panel to classify Harbaugh’s case as Level I-Aggravated, with penalties including a four-year show-cause order. Subsumed in the show-cause order is a one-season suspension for him.”

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Harbaugh left Michigan at the end of January 2024 to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. According to his attorney, Tom Mars, Harbaugh didn’t participate in or was invited to the settlement process. Mars went on to say on X.com, “If I were in Coach Harbaugh’s shoes and had an $80 million contract as a head coach of the Chargers, I wouldn’t pay any attention to the findings of a kangaroo court which claims to represent the principles of the nation’s most flagrant, repeat violator of the federal antitrust laws.”

This penalty came about when Harbaugh told the NCAA “he could not recall” the meeting with recruits during COVID. One of the recruits remembered the coach ordering a hamburger for breakfast, which stood out to him. Another piece of evidence was a text message from Harbaugh to the recruit. During the NCAA investigation, Harbaugh would not admit or deny this, saying “he could not recall.” The NCAA took his comments as being dishonest and now has given him the show-cause penalty.

Michigan is already under another investigation for sign stealing, and the results of those findings will be announced soon. The Wolverines open their defense of the national championship on August 31, hosting Fresno State.