NCAA Hands Down Penalties in Michigan Recruiting Investigation

Patrick Andres | Apr 16, 2024

Jan 7, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines helmet at the CFP National Championship. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After a lengthy inquest, Michigan has learned its fate in an NCAA investigation into its recruiting practices.

The Wolverines have been placed on probation for three years, college sports's governing body announced in a Tuesday morning release.

Michigan also received "a fine and recruiting restrictions" for its indiscretions, determined by the NCAA to be "impermissible in-person recruiting contacts during a COVID-19 dead period, impermissible tryouts, and the program exceeding the number of allowed countable coaches when noncoaching staff members engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities."

Five individuals received a one-year show-cause penalty for their actions, meaning schools intending to hire the individuals are required to demonstrate to the NCAA why elements of their punishments should not roll over to their new schools. One individual who did not cooperate with the agreed-upon punishments will have their case adjudicated separately.

Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines' head coach during the period the violations occurred, left for the same position with the Los Angeles Chargers after Michigan beat Washington 34-13 to win the national title in January.

"The negotiated resolution also involved the school's agreement that the underlying violations demonstrated a head coach responsibility violation and the former football head coach failed to meet his responsibility to cooperate with the investigation," the NCAA said in its release.

Harbaugh previously served a self-imposed three-game suspension to start the 2023 season.

On top of the recruiting investigation, the Wolverines are facing continued investigation into allegations of illegal in-person scouting—for which Harbaugh also served a three-game suspension in '23.