Last October, the NCAA threatened to ban former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh if his lawyer did not stop his mocking remarks about the association’s ongoing investigation into the Wolverines football team on social media.
Attorney Thomas Mars received a “letter of admonition” from current NCAA Committee on Infractions chair Dave Roberts in October 2023. The letter stated that if Mars continued to post criticisms of the NCAA’s investigation process, “the COI will consider appropriate penalties, including immediate suspension of your client.” CBS Sports was able to obtain the letter.
The NCAA by law 19.4.6-(i), which Roberts cited, grants the COI the power to “… sanction parties and/or their representative(s) for behaviors that inhibit the committee’s ability to effectively manage the docket, ensure a professional and civil decorum in all proceedings, or otherwise efficiently solve infractions cases.”
Roberts appears to be issuing this last caution in the letter’s concluding line, “There will be no further admonitions…
The letter was received while Michigan was being investigated twice for NCAA recruiting infractions that occurred during the COVID-19 dead period and for sign theft. The NCAA announced on Tuesday that a negotiated settlement had been achieved in the initial case. The statement noted that “one former coach,” most likely Harbaugh, “did not participate in the agreement, and that portion of the case will be considered separately by the Committee on Infractions.”
The week that the sign-stealing controversy emerged, October 26, 2023, is when Roberts’ letter was dated. That occurred during Michigan’s season during the national championship’s bye week.
In order to lessen fines in the first instance, Michigan suspended Harbaugh for the first three games of the season. This was the second suspension of Harbaugh that season. After the sign-stealing controversy, the Big Ten punished him for the final three regular-season games.
That inquiry is still being conducted. Tuesday saw the announcement of Harbaugh’s degree of involvement in the matter following claims that he had deceived NCAA investigators. According to Harbaugh, he didn’t lie to the NCAA. Michigan isn’t anticipated to face significant penalties because Harbaugh left for the NFL and a negotiated settlement was struck. Mars, though, claimed that neither Harbaugh nor Michigan were contacted about a negotiated settlement in this particular issue by the NCAA or Michigan.