One college football coach has lost his job while the Michigan sign-stealing saga continues to unravel.
The Wolverines fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge on Friday, declining to say why. But the reason behind the termination has since been uncovered.
“From the outset, our focus has been on seeking due process and allowing the NCAA to conduct a fair and deliberate investigation,” the university said in a statement. “Although the Big Ten has closed its investigation, we are continuing to cooperate with the NCAA as it moves forward with its ongoing investigation.
“Consistent with our commitment to integrity, we will continue to take the appropriate actions, including disciplinary measures, based on information we obtain. Earlier today, Michigan Athletics relieved Chris Partridge of his duties as a member of the Michigan Football staff. Due to employee privacy laws, we are unable to comment further.”
This comes in the wake of Jim Harbaugh accepting his three-game suspension, though it’s been reported that the Big Ten was prepared to reduce it to two games prior to them receiving new information.
That new information apparently involved Partridge. According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger and Dan Wetzel, the LB coach was unaware of Connor Stalions’ scouting scheme but, once the word got out, he tried to erase the trail.
Yahoo’s report notes that a Michigan assistant “participated in the destruction of evidence on a computer after the scandal broke.”
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NCAA stories via Google! Follow Us
ESPN also reports that the firing comes as a result of Partridge’s lack of cooperation with the NCAA in their investigations.
Harbaugh and the university thought it best to accept his suspension after this new bit of data came to light.
