Jim Harbaugh has spoken.
One day after ESPN reported details from an NCAA notice of allegations draft that alleges Jim Harbaugh violated NCAA rules related to the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scheme, Harbaugh pleaded his innocence to Los Angeles Chargers reporters on Monday.
"Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal. I was raised with that lesson. I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams that I've coached," Harbaugh said, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic. "No one's perfect. If you stumble, you apologize and make it right. Today, I do not apologize. I did not participate, was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations. So for, it's back to work and attacking with an ethusiasm unknown to mankind."
According to the NOA draft, Harbaugh did not cooperate with the NCAA's probe into Michigan because he denied the enforcement staff's requests to view relevant messages and phone records from his cell phone. As a result, the document states Harbaugh could face a show-cause penalty should he ever choose to return to college sports.
Harbaugh is one of seven members of the 2023 Michigan football program accused of violating NCAA rules in recent years.
Sherrone Moore, Harbaugh's successor as the Wolverines' head coach, could face a show-cause penalty and a suspension for deleting 52 text messages between him and Stalions on the same day media reports revealed Stalions had created and operated Michigan's sign-stealing operation.
In addition to Harbaugh and Moore, former staffers Chris Partridge and Denard Robinson are accused of committing Level 1 violations related to the Stalions case. They also allegedly committed Level 2 violations unrelated to the case, as did former staffers Jesse Minter and Steve Clinkscale.
Harbaugh's statement is the first public remark from anyone involved in ESPN's report. The NCAA, Michigan and Stalions have yet to respond to Dan Murphy and Pete Thamel's requests for comments.
