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Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh has spent the better part of the last three days answering questions about his coaching future.
Harbaugh has led the Wolverines to the last two Big Ten championships, a pair of wins over rival Ohio State and a pair of College Football Playoff berths.
That success, coupled with the inability to actually win the College Football Playoff, has some wondering if a return to the NFL may be in order for the former San Francisco 49ers coach.
Harbaugh has attempted to shoot those questions down. But all he’s really done is add fuel to the fire. Now it appears that the decision may be taken out of his hands entirely if the NCAA has anything to say about it.
NCAA Serves Harbaugh And Michigan With Notice Of Allegations
Austin Mack and Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic reported late Thursday night that Harbaugh and Michigan face numerous NCAA violations.
Michigan faces four Level II violations and one Level I violation. The Level I violation, which is considered the most serious by the NCAA, is levied against Harbaugh for providing false or misleading information. The NCAA found that he failed to cooperate with investigators related to a Level II violation regarding contact with two prospects during the COVID-19 dead period.
The NCAA generally considers Level II violations to be minor. But the Level I violation could put Harbaugh in serious trouble.
Auerbach and company previously reported that Harbaugh would likely leave for the NFL if an opportunity presented itself. The new allegations may well play a role in that decision.
Harbaugh spent the last eight seasons coaching his alma mater. But despite the last two seasons being his most successful, the NFL continues to linger.
Harbaugh’s future is now as uncertain as ever. But he’ll undoubtedly have a number of options if an NFL return is on the cards.