Michigan fires LB coach Chris Partridge one day after school accepts Jim Harbaugh’s three-game suspension
Partridge was hired by Harbaugh prior to the 2023 season
The NCAA is still working with us while it continues its investigation, even though the Big Ten has concluded its own.
We will continue to act appropriately, including disciplinary action, in accordance with our commitment to integrity, in response to the information we learn.
Chris Partridge’s responsibilities as an employee of Michigan Football were terminated earlier today by Michigan Athletics. Due to employee privacy laws, we are unable to comment further.
According to Yahoo Sports, while Partridge is not alleged to have known about the sign-stealing operation, he is alleged to have covered up evidence after the fact.
The Big Ten was prepared to reduce Harbaugh’s suspension from three games to two before the information on Partridge’s involvement was discovered, according to Sports Illustrated.
Partridge was hired prior to the 2023 season after spending the previous three seasons as Ole Miss co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
From 2015 to 2019, he held a number of positions at Michigan, including coordinator of special teams from 2016 to 19, linebackers coach from 2016 to 17, and safeties coach from 2018 to 19.
From 1994 to 2003, Minter led Cincinnati as their coach, going 53-63-1 during that time. He is the father of current Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
The timing of Partridge’s firing is noteworthy for Michigan, since Harbaugh will be serving the second of a three-game ban this weekend when the Wolverines travel to Maryland following the Big Ten’s discovery of an improper scouting pattern.
The subject of the probe is analyst Connor Stalions, who is accused of breaking NCAA regulations by buying several tickets to games featuring Michigan opponents in the future, or possibly in the future.
Despite not being a part of the plan, the conference found that Harbaugh had broken the league’s rules regarding sportsmanship. The NCAA is currently looking into the situation.
Harbaugh accepted the penalty on Thursday after battling it in court for the previous week.
The Conference agreed to close its inves…
The university and Coach Harbaugh reached an agreement to accept the three-game punishment. In an effort to refocus attention on our student-athletes and their accomplishments on the field, Coach Harbaugh made the decision to accept the suspension with the backing of the university.
The Conference has acknowledged that it is not aware of any evidence linking Coach Harbaugh to the claims. The university is continuing to fully cooperate with the NCAA’s inquiry.
Michigan booster pinpointed in NCAA investigation as funding alleged sign-stealing operation, per report
The booster, known as ‘Uncle T,’ is said to have contributed thousands of dollars to the operation.
According to Yahoo Sports, a Michigan supporter at least partially sponsored the alleged sign-stealing operation perpetrated by ex-Wolverines worker Connor Stalions that has rocked the football team. According to the source, Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partridge, who was fired Friday morning, is also accused of participating in the destruction of computer evidence after the scandal was revealed.
Dubbed “Uncle T” by the NCAA, the booster allegedly gave the Stalions thousands of dollars to cover the cost of the advanced scouting operation, which included buying tickets to as many as thirty games over an extended period of time involving prospective postseason opponents and Michigan’s Big Ten opponents.
Stalions was suspended shortly after the scandal broke and later resigned after reportedly refusing to cooperate with the NCAA’s investigation.
As for Partridge, he was not believed to have knowledge of Stalions’ operation until after the fact, subsequently acting to cover up evidence. Partridge was in his first season of his second stint on Michigan’s staff after previously working with the Wolverines from 2015–19.
The NCAA’s ongoing probe into Michigan resulted in the Big Ten issuing a three-game suspension for coach Jim Harbaugh on the basis of the Wolverines violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy.
The Big Ten classified the suspension as action against the university rather than a specific sanction against Harbaugh, who initially challenged the punishment.
However, Harbaugh and his legal team reached an agreement with Michigan on Thursday in which he accepted the suspension in full, ending litigation between the two sides. Harbaugh has not been proven knowledgeable of the alleged scheme.
Before finishing the regular season against No. 2 Ohio State in their yearly rivalry match, No. 3 Michigan plays at Maryland on Saturday. The Wolverines already won at Penn State during the first leg of Harbaugh’s suspension.
No. 3 Michigan will face Maryland on Saturday at noon ET before it closes out the season against No. 2 Ohio State in their annual rivalry showdown.
