Michigan football announces Jim Harbaugh's head-coaching replacements during suspension
Angelique S. ChengelisWith Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh sidelined the first three games as he serves a self-imposed suspension, he hasn’t decided on an interim coach but, instead, interim coaches.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter will serve as the game-day coach for the season opener Sept. 2 against East Carolina at Michigan Stadium, special-teams coordinator/safeties coach Jay Harbaugh and running backs coach/run-game coordinator Mike Hart will handle the second game against UNLV with Harbaugh the head coach for the first half and Hart the second, and offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Sherrone Moore will be the game-day coach Sept. 16 against Bowling Green.
Jim Harbaugh will return to the sideline as coach Sept. 23 when Michigan opens the Big Ten against Rutgers.
Meanwhile, strength coach Ben Herbert also has been named associate head coach, and Jack Harbaugh, Jim Harbaugh’s father, remains as assistant head coach.
“I’m certain that all will be impressed with the four coaches’ ability to direct and manage the game,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “It’s been well documented that we have a very talented coaching staff and I believe that all 10 assistant coaches will b head coaches in the near future. They are all capable of leading a team at an elite level. I know that everyone will handle their responsibilities and help our players to be the best version of themselves on and off the field this fall and beyond.”
That he decided on these four coaches to serve as head coaches the first three games comes as no surprise. During a camp in June, Harbaugh, in response to a question about whether he was concerned Moore, now the solo offensive coordinator in addition to being offensive line coach, might have too much on his plate, praised his assistants.
“I have total trust in the coaching staff that we have,” Harbaugh said at the time. “I'll make a bold statement right now. Every one of our assistant coaches will be a head coach. I'd even say four after this season. The talent, the coaching acumen and talent is really good.”
When asked if Minter was one of those coaches, Harbaugh nodded, as he did when Moore, Jay Harbaugh and Hart were mentioned.
Michigan on Monday announced was self-imposing a three-game suspension for Harbaugh this season, game days only, in response to an NCAA investigation, specifically a Level I charge against Harbaugh for allegedly lying to and misleading investigators looking into Level II recruiting violations.
A negotiated resolution between Harbaugh and the NCAA that was expected to include a four-game suspension this season was not approved by the NCAA Committee on Infractions on Aug 11. Harbaugh has admitted the Level II infractions occurred but not to lying to investigators. Sources told The Detroit News at the time that Michigan voluntarily self-imposing game suspensions for Harbaugh was still on the table, despite it appearing a suspension this season would not happen with the case heading to a hearing.
This is a goodwill effort by Michigan in the hopes that going further with the process, the NCAA won’t add further penalties.
The NCAA sent Michigan a draft of Notice of Allegations on Jan. 5, regarding its investigation of alleged recruiting violations that occurred in 2021 during an NCAA-mandated COVID-19 recruiting dead period. Moore, now the offensive coordinator, Grant Newsome, a graduate assistant at the time of the recruiting violations and now the tight ends coach, and former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, now with the Baltimore Ravens in the same role, were included in the NCAA’s report.
There have been a number of public leaks of information, most recently on Aug. 12 with news of the derailment of the negotiated resolution. The NCAA, typically mum on investigations, uncharacteristically issued a statement on request to a number of news outlets, including The News.
“The Michigan infractions case is related to impermissible on and off-campus recruiting during the COVID-19 dead period and impermissible coaching activities — not a cheeseburger,” Derrick Crawford, NCAA vice president of hearing operations, said in the statement, referencing what has mostly been Michigan fan message board fodder suggesting buying a burger for a recruit is what the situation has essentially been about.
“It is not uncommon for the COI to seek clarification on key facts prior to accepting. The COI may also reject an NR if it determines that the agreement is not in the best interests of the Association or the penalties are not reasonable. If the involved parties cannot resolve a case through the negotiated resolution process, it may proceed to a hearing, but the committee believes cooperation is the best avenue to quickly resolve issues.”
Lawyer Tom Mars, representing Harbaugh, responded to Crawford’s statement in a social media post.
"Pursuant to the NCAA's internal operating procedures, and under threat of penalties, Michigan, the involved coaches, and their lawyers are prohibited from uttering a word about this ongoing case. Yet the NCAA can issue a public statement putting its spin on the case?" Mars wrote, challenging the NCAA’s gag rule on discussing the case.
Three days later when Harbaugh, in his ninth season coaching the Wolverines, met with reporters to discuss the midway point of preseason camp, he was asked about the NCAA response.
“No. No, I can’t comment,” Harbaugh said Aug. 15.
The day before Big Ten media days late last month, news broke of a negotiated resolution proposing what likely would be a four-game suspension for Harbaugh. Harbaugh touched briefly on the investigation.
“As you probably already know, I'm not allowed to talk about any aspect of that ongoing situation,” Harbaugh said at Big Ten media days. “I'm with you — I would love to lay it all out there. Nothing to be ashamed of. But now is not that time. That's about all there is to say about that.”
Twitter/X: @chengelis