ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The NCAA announced that former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has received a four-year show-cause penalty for his involvement in recruiting violations. The violations included texting during the COVID-19 recruiting dead period, analysts performing on-field coaching, and coaches watching workouts over Zoom during the shutdown. Harbaugh’s “unethical conduct” and “failure to cooperate,” along with providing false or misleading information, were deemed Level I NCAA violations.

As a result, Harbaugh, who left Michigan earlier this year to coach the Los Angeles Chargers, will not be able to have any contact with college recruits or athletes until 2028. This punishment is unrelated to Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal, which is expected to result in additional penalties for those involved.

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Five former Michigan staff members reached an agreement with the NCAA in April for penalties related to the case, but Harbaugh’s resolution was handled separately, and the NCAA determined he violated a head coach’s “responsibility obligations.”