Michigan has fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge, the school announced Friday. Rick Minter will take on the role.
The team did not disclose a reason for Partridge’s firing. Two Michigan sources said the school believed Partridge interfered with the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan’s alleged personal scouting plan, but did not determine that he was directly involved.
The news comes a day after Michigan and the Big Ten announced they had settled their legal dispute and that coach Jim Harbaugh would serve the remainder of his three-game suspension as punishment for the scouting and sign-stealing scandal. Harbaugh will miss Saturday’s game at Maryland and Michigan’s regular-season finale against Ohio State.
The announcement that Michigan was dropping its appeal of the Big Ten’s suspension was an abrupt about-face from the school’s defiant stance in response to Harbaugh’s suspension. An industry source briefed on the investigation said new information continues to emerge through the NCAA’s interviews with Michigan employees, expanding the scope of a scandal originally tied to a single employee, recruiting analyst Connor Stalions.
Michigan officials are participating in those interviews, the source said, and learning information in “real time” as the NCAA investigation progresses. The Big Ten sought information from the NCAA before assessing Harbaugh’s three-game suspension, but has now backed away after Michigan decided to drop its legal challenge.
“Although the Big Ten has completed its investigation, we continue to work with the NCAA as it moves forward with its ongoing investigation,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. “Consistent with our commitment to integrity, we will continue to take appropriate action, including disciplinary action, based on the information we receive.”
Partridge was in his second stint on Michigan’s staff after joining the program in 2015 as director of player personnel. He was promoted to on-field coach the following season and coached at Michigan until 2020 before taking a coaching position at Ole Miss. According to an industry source, Partridge was one of the coaches who helped Stalions develop a role in the program during his previous time at Michigan.
The Wolverines (10-0) enter this weekend at No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
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