EL SEGUNDO — Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh on Monday denied any knowledge of or wrongdoing by the University of Michigan football staff while he was the head coach. Harbaugh, hired by the Chargers in January, was one of seven members of the Wolverines program accused of NCAA violations.
ESPN obtained a draft copy of the notice of allegations on Sunday.
“Yeah, I do have a comment,” Harbaugh said. “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 I have coached. No one is perfect. If you stumble, you apologize and you make it right. Today, I do not apologize. I have not participated and was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations. So, for me, it’s back to work and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”
Sherrone Moore, Harbaugh’s successor at Michigan, faces possible sanctions.
The NCAA accuses Harbaugh of not cooperating with its investigation because he denied the organization access to his cellphone’s text and voice messages, what it considers to be a Level 1 violation, the most serious. He could face a “show-cause” restriction if he returns to coaching in college.
In addition, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale are accused of recruiting violations in the draft notice of violations. Minter and Clinkscale left Michigan for the Chargers with Harbaugh after leading the Wolverines to the national title last season.
The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh for the final three regular-season games of the 2023 season for violating the conference’s sportsmanship rules relating to a sign-stealing scandal involving a former staffer. In one instance, evidence showed Connor Stalions was disguised as a Central Michigan coach and wearing a sideline pass during the Chippewas’ game against Michigan State.
The draft notice does not indicate there is evidence that Harbaugh knew of Stalions’ ongoing actions, but suggested that Harbaugh failed to notice possible “red flags” related to Stalions’ activity. Stalions resigned in November after reports of his illegal scouting operation were published in the media.
Minter was accused of sending a text message to a recruit who was a high school sophomore at the time, a Level 2 violation. Clinkscale was accused of providing illegal benefits to recruits, including paying for meals and writing a $100 check to a recruit’s father for a charity golf tournament.
Clinkscale also is alleged to have helped a recruit get verified on Instagram.
Harbaugh also served a self-imposed three-game suspension to begin the 2023 season related to possible recruiting violations, including buying recruits meals. It was reported that the NCAA’s efforts to expedite the case collapsed because Harbaugh refused to cooperate in the investigation.
Despite the suspensions and the possibility of NCAA sanctions, Harbaugh led the Wolverines to a 15-0 record and the national championship in January. The Chargers then hired him on Jan. 24. Minter and Clinkscale were hired in the weeks that followed as the franchise retooled its coaching staff.
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Harbaugh spent the past nine seasons at Michigan, his alma mater. He’s also coached the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL and collegiately at Stanford and the University of San Diego. He spent 15 seasons as a quarterback in the NFL, including two with the Chargers in 1999 and 2000.
EXTRA POINTS
Harbaugh said final decisions hadn’t been made on who might play and who might sit out the first of the Chargers’ three exhibition games on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium. He said those who do play would be made on an “individual, case-by-case” basis. …
The Chargers ratcheted back the intensity of Monday’s practice, the 11th session of training camp, after a joint practice with the Rams on Sunday. In fact, practice was delayed by 30 minutes from its original starting time of 10 a.m. to give the players additional rest after Sunday’s physical session. …
Quarterback Justin Herbert watched practice for a second consecutive day while wearing a walking boot to protect the plantar fascia injury in his right foot. Harbaugh said he didn’t have an update on Herbert’s condition. Herbert is expected to wear the boot for approximately two weeks.
