It looks like Jim Harbaugh will coach all of Michigan’s games this season after all.
While Harbaugh had reportedly reached an agreement with the NCAA to serve a four-game suspension this year as punishment for allegedly lying to investigators about NCAA violations committed by the program, that agreement was not approved by the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions.
As a result, Harbaugh’s NCAA disciplinary case is expected to continue into 2024, which would mean Harbaugh would not serve any suspension until next year, according to Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel.
NCAA vice president of hearing operations Derrick Crawford said in a statement that “it is not uncommon for the COI (Committee on Infrations) to seek clarification on key facts prior to accepting” and that “the COI may also reject a NR (negotiated resolution) if it determines that the agreement is not in the best interests of the Association or the penalties are not reasonable.”
NCAA statement on the Harbaugh situation, which includes this: not a cheeseburger. pic.twitter.com/0sH3gpkecc
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 12, 2023
While the initial infractions allegedly committed by Michigan – including meeting with recruits during the COVID-19 dead period, using too many coaches at practice sessions and watching player workouts over a video feed – were considered to be Level II violations, which generally result in limited penalties, Harbaugh was tagged with a Level I violation for his alleged dishonesty with NCAA investigators.
Barring a new agreement between Harbaugh and the NCAA being approved by the Committee on Infractions, his disciplinary case will now proceed to a hearing, which is unlikely to take place before next offseason. Naturally, that’s already led to questions about whether Harbaugh will ever actually serve a suspension, as Harbaugh has flirted with NFL head coaching jobs in each of the last two offseasons and could theoretically do so again in 2024, especially if the looming threat of NCAA discipline remains.
If the case pushes into 2024 - as expected - it's reasonable to wonder if Harbaugh will even still be Michigan's coach. He's said he wants to remain in Ann Arbor, but he's spoken with NFL teams the last two offseasons.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) August 12, 2023
