Michigan Football Part Ways with Linebackers Coach Chris Partridge

Michigan’s announcement on Friday revealed that linebackers coach Chris Partridge has been immediately relieved of his duties.

This announcement emerged a day after Michigan stated it was dropping its legal case against the Big Ten and that coach Jim Harbaugh would serve his three-game suspension levied by the conference.

An ESPN source disclosed that Partridge’s firing was a result of his lack of cooperation with the NCAA investigation.

“From the outset, our focus has been on seeking due process and allowing the NCAA to conduct a fair and deliberate investigation,” Michigan stated in a prepared 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.”

However, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Michigan used specific language to explain Partridge’s firing: “As we discussed today, the university has received evidence that you have failed to abide by the university directive not to discuss an ongoing NCAA investigation with anyone associated with the Michigan football program or others and as a result has determined that you have failed to satisfactorily perform your duties.”

Michigan’s decision to discipline and then fire Partridge signals a shift in how the institution has approached the investigation. Sources informed Thamel that information gleaned in NCAA interviews contributed to the acceptance of the Big Ten decision and to Partridge’s firing.

Rick Minter will step in as the linebackers coach when the Wolverines play Maryland on Saturday. Partridge previously held the role of Michigan’s director of player personnel in 2015, then served as the special teams coach, safeties coach, and eventually linebackers coach from 2016 to ’19.

Afterwards, Partridge spent three seasons as co-defensive coordinator at Ole Miss before returning to Michigan in February 2023.

Harbaugh’s suspension by the Big Ten was due to allegations that former staffer Connor Stalions had scouted teams in-person and recorded play signals to later steal the signs from opposing teams. Michigan did not specify in its statement if Partridge was connected to the allegations and has not issued a statement for the reason it halted its legal battle with the conference.