Michigan fires linebackers coach as ‘new evidence’ emerges in sign-stealing scandal
Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel announced Friday that linebackers coach Chris Partridge has been fired.
nypost.com
By Ryan Glasspiegel
Michigan continues to have a wild football season with its coaching staff.
Last week, head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten for Michigan’s final three regular-season conference games as the football program has been investigated for a sign-stealing scheme presided over by ex-Marine Connor Stalions.
Athletics director Warde Manuel announced Friday that linebackers coach Chris Partridge has been fired.
Partridge, 43, rejoined Michigan’s staff this season after spending three seasons at Ole Miss.
He had previously been a defensive assistant for Michigan from 2015-19.
Michigan’s linebackers will now be coached by Rick Minter.
No reason was given by Michigan for Partridge’s firing, but Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger tweeted that “Michigan leaders were presented new evidence this week in the NCAA’s investigation into its advance scouting scheme.”
This new evidence “presumably” led Michigan to stop fighting discipline so forcefully, Dellenger wrote, noting that Harbaugh gave up his fight against the Big Ten’s suspension Thursday and Partridge was fired Friday.
Yahoo Sports subsequently published a story indicating that Partridge was not accused at this time of knowing about Stalions’ sign-stealing scheme while it was happening, but “acted after the fact to cover up evidence”.
The report further stated that a Michigan booster nicknamed “Uncle T” by NCAA investigators gave Stalions thousands of dollars to fund the scheme.
Earlier this week, citing FOIA disclosures, the Associated Press reported Stalions did not file expense reimbursement requests in his travels to watch Michigan opponents for the alleged purpose of stealing signs.
“This morning, the University, Coach Harbaugh, and the Big Ten resolved their pending litigation,” Michigan said in a statement on Thursday.
“The Conference agreed to close its investigation, and the University and Coach Harbaugh agreed to accept the three-game suspension. Coach Harbaugh, with the University’s support, decided to accept this sanction to return the focus to our student-athletes and their performance on the field.
“The Conference has confirmed that it is not aware of any information suggesting Coach Harbaugh’s involvement in the allegations. The University continues to fully cooperate with the NCAA’s investigation.”
Stalions, who was accused of traveling to watch numerous Michigan opponents in person, resigned from the football program earlier this month.
Stealing signs is not technically illegal in college football but in-person advance scouting has been banned since 1994.
Harbaugh was suspended for last week’s game against Penn State, and will also miss the Wolverines’ games against Maryland and heated rival Ohio State.
He is still permitted to coach the team during the week in practice.
