Just the facts:
Jim Harbaugh 12/30/14 - Hired
Warde Manuel (AD) 3/14/16 - Hired
The University of Michigan has faced several significant scandals and controversies since March 2016, involving multiple sports programs and the university itself.
Football Program Scandals
Recruiting and Coaching Violations (2020-2021): The NCAA found the program committed several Level I and II violations, including impermissible in-person recruiting contacts during a COVID-19 dead period and exceeding the number of allowed coaches. This case was resolved in April 2024, resulting in a one-game suspension for head coach Jim Harbaugh during the 2023 season.
Sign-Stealing Scandal (2021-2023): Former staff member Connor Stalions orchestrated an elaborate, illegal in-person scouting and sign-stealing scheme over multiple seasons. The multi-year investigation concluded in August 2025 with major penalties, including a four-year probation, significant financial fines (potentially over $30 million), and show-cause penalties for several staff members.
Offensive Coordinator Firing (2023): Offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was fired after an FBI investigation revealed he had used his university credentials to access the accounts of over 3,000 students and athletes.
Sherrone Moore Firing and Arrest (2025): The university fired newly appointed head coach Sherrone Moore for cause after an internal investigation uncovered an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. He was subsequently arrested the same day, facing a police investigation related to an alleged assault.
Men's Basketball Program Scandals
Juwan Howard Altercations (2021-2022): Head coach Juwan Howard was involved in multiple on-court shouting matches with opposing coaches (Maryland and Wisconsin). The incident at Wisconsin in 2022 involved him striking an opposing assistant coach, leading to a five-game suspension.
Zavier Simpson Car Crash (2020): Star point guard Zavier Simpson crashed a vehicle owned by Athletic Director Warde Manuel's wife. Simpson was found to have lied to police at the scene and was suspended for one game.
Juwan Howard Firing (2024): Howard was fired due to the team's poor performance and ongoing off-court conduct issues, including an altercation with his strength coach.
Other Athletics Scandals
Men's Hockey Toxic Culture (2022): An independent report found that head coach Mel Pearson oversaw a toxic and misogynistic environment, pressured players to lie on COVID-19 tracing forms, and was not truthful with investigators. His contract was not renewed.
Major University-Wide Scandal
Dr. Robert Anderson Sexual Abuse Settlement (2021-2022): The university reached a massive $490 million settlement with over 1,000 victims of sexual abuse by the late former university physician and team doctor Robert Anderson. This long-running issue spanned decades and involved allegations that previous staff, including former football coach Bo Schembechler, were aware of the abuse but failed to act.
The following individuals received these penalties, primarily stemming from the 2023 sign-stealing scandal and earlier recruiting violations.
Coaches and Staff Banned (Show-Cause Orders)
A show-cause order essentially bars a coach from employment at any NCAA school unless that school can prove to the NCAA why the penalty should be lifted (which is rare).
Jim Harbaugh (Head Coach): 14 Years Total
4-Year Ban (August 2024): Received for recruiting violations during the COVID-19 dead period and failing to cooperate with investigators.
10-Year Ban (August 2025): Received a separate 10-year show-cause for his involvement in the sign-stealing scandal and unethical conduct. This penalty is set to begin after his first ban expires in 2028, effectively banning him from college coaching until 2038.
Connor Stalions (Analyst): 8 Years
August 2025: The central figure in the sign-stealing scheme received an 8-year show-cause order for orchestrating the illegal in-person scouting operation.
Denard Robinson (Assistant Director of Player Personnel): 3 Years
August 2025: The former Michigan standout quarterback received a 3-year show-cause penalty for recruiting violations and involvement in the sign-stealing investigation.
Sherrone Moore (Head Coach): 2 Years
August 2025: Received a 2-year show-cause penalty for deleting text messages related to the sign-stealing scandal. While this "ban" was active, he was still permitted to coach but faced suspensions (one game in 2026, in addition to a university-imposed two-game suspension in 2025). He was subsequently fired by the university in December 2025 for a separate issue involving an inappropriate relationship.
Jesse Minter (Defensive Coordinator) & Steve Clinkscale (Assistant Coach): 1 Year
April 2025: Both former assistants received negotiated 1-year show-cause orders for recruiting violations tied to the sign-stealing probe.
Notable Personnel Cleared or Not Banned by NCAA
Chris Partridge (Linebackers Coach): Although fired by Michigan in November 2023 for alleged lack of cooperation, he was explicitly cleared of all major violations by the NCAA in August 2025 and did not receive a show-cause penalty.
Matt Weiss (Offensive Coordinator): Fired in January 2023 and indicted by the FBI for computer access crimes. While he faces legal charges, there is no public record of him receiving an NCAA show-cause penalty to date.
Player Disciplinary Actions (Not Bans)
While no players were banned, some faced short-term suspensions:
Moussa Diabaté & Terrance Williams II (Basketball): Suspended for one game each by the Big Ten following a post-game altercation with Wisconsin in February 2022.
Zavier Simpson (Basketball): Suspended for one game in 2020 for violating team rules.
Since March 14, 2016, several University of Michigan (UM) football coaches and staff members have been arrested, along with at least one active player.
Coaches and Staff Members Arrested
Several football program staffers have been arrested, predominantly for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) or related charges.
Sherrone Moore (Head Coach): December 2025
Charge/Investigation: Arrested on suspicion of assault shortly after being fired by the university for an "inappropriate relationship with a staff member". He remains in custody, and an investigation by Pittsfield Township police is ongoing.
Matt Weiss (Offensive Coordinator): January 2023
Charge: Fired and later indicted on federal charges for computer access crimes, specifically using his university credentials to access the accounts of thousands of students and athletes to seek intimate photos.
Denard Robinson (Assistant Director of Player Personnel): April 2024
Charge: Arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) after a single-car crash. He later accepted a plea deal for operating while visibly impaired and resigned from his position.
Greg Scruggs (Defensive Line Coach): March 2024
Charge: Arrested for suspected drunken driving after police found him asleep behind the wheel. He resigned from his position a few days later before coaching a game for UM.
Fergus Connolly (Strength and Conditioning Coach):
Charge: Arrested for DUI, punching police officers, and biting them (exact date within the specified timeframe is not specified in all sources, but mentioned in a list of staffer arrests).
Jim Minick (Strength and Conditioning Staff):
Charge: Arrested for DUI (exact date within the specified timeframe is not specified in all sources, but mentioned in a list of staffer arrests).
Players Arrested
At least one active player has been arrested during this period.
Mazi Smith (Defensive Lineman): October 2022
Charge: Arrested for possessing an unregistered handgun during a traffic stop. He pleaded guilty to a lesser weapon charge and was sentenced to probation, continuing to play for Michigan throughout the process.
Other Notable Arrests (Former Players/Staff)
Patrick Kugler (Former Player, 2013-2017): August 2024
Arrested in Tennessee during a human trafficking sting operation targeting individuals seeking sex with minors. He was working as an assistant coach at Austin Peay at the time of his arrest.
Jabrill Peppers (Former Player, 2014-2016): October 2024
The New England Patriots safety was arrested in Massachusetts on charges including strangulation, assault and battery, and drug possession.
