Jim Harbaugh reacts to NCAA punishment: Here's what former Michigan football coach said

Jim Harbaugh got to respond Thursday at the Los Angeles Chargers facility after the NCAA announced punishments for him due to conduct in 2021 while he was the head coach at Michigan football.

After answering a series of questions about the Chargers' training camp, Harbaugh was asked if he had any comment on the latest findings from the NCAA. Harbaugh danced around the question before giving an indirect answer about the state of college sports.

"I'm stopping the engagement there with commenting," Harbaugh said. "But my only continued hope is that one day college athletics will be about what's best for the young men and young women who participate in them. That's really all I got to say about it.”

On Wednesday, the NCAA released a 48-page ruling after an investigation into impermissible recruiting during a COVID-19 dead period in 2021.

Harbaugh is suspended from the NCAA for one year, should he ever choose to return to college athletics, and has been hit with a four-year show-cause order after being guilty of “unethical conduct” and a failure to promote “an atmosphere of compliance.” The show-cause penalty is effective immediately from Aug. 7, 2024 through Aug. 6, 2028, and bans him from all team-related activities including practice, travel, video study, recruiting and team meetings at any school that employs him.

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The punishment does not further affect Michigan's football program and is strictly for Harbaugh, after the school and five staffers agreed to a three-year probation in April. This included a $5,000 fine, plus 1% of its football budget and a handful of recruiting sanctions.

Harbaugh bolted to the Chargers in January two weeks after leading the Wolverines to a 15-0 season and the national championship.