Michigan Suspending Jim Harbaugh Three Games

Michigan Suspending Jim Harbaugh Three Games
Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sideline during the Spring Game at Michigan Stadium in Mich., on April 1, 2023. (Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports via Field Level Media)
Field Level Media
8/22/2023
Updated:
8/22/2023
0:00

Michigan is self-imposing a three-game suspension for football coach Jim Harbaugh to begin the 2023 season.

The suspension covers three nonconference home games against East Carolina (Sept. 2), UNLV (Sept. 9), and Bowling Green (Sept. 16). Harbaugh is set to return for Michigan’s Big Ten opener on Sept. 23 against visiting Rutgers.

“While the ongoing NCAA matter continues through the NCAA process, today’s announcement is our way of addressing mistakes that our department has agreed to in an attempt to further that process,” athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement Monday. “We will continue to support coach Harbaugh, his staff and our outstanding student-athletes. Per the NCAA’s guidelines, we cannot comment further until the matter is resolved.”

An announcement on an interim coach for the three games will be made at a later date, the school said.

Harbaugh, 59, reportedly reached a deal with the NCAA earlier this summer on a four-game suspension as punishment for recruiting violations and for providing allegedly misleading information surrounding those allegations.

Harbaugh has denied that he lied to investigators, claiming he didn’t recall details they were requesting around meetings with recruits.

The Wolverines were 13–1 last season and played in the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive year, falling to TCU in the national semifinal game on Dec. 31.