Chris Partridge, the fired assistant coach at Michigan, claims he was unaware of the sign-stealing plot.
Chris Partridge, the former linebackers coach at Michigan, said on social media on Monday that he was fired for not complying with NCAA rules on in-person scouting and sign-stealing, and that he was unaware of the alleged plot.
In a Monday social media post, former Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partridge claimed he was fired for disobeying the school’s order to refrain from discussing the investigation with “anyone associated with the program” and that he was unaware of the alleged in-person scouting and sign-stealing scheme for which the NCAA is looking into the Wolverines.
Partridge wrote on X, the platform that was then known as Twitter, claiming he had refrained from making any public remarks since his dismissal 11 days prior in order to avoid detracting from the team’s objective of going undefeated during the regular season.
On Saturday, 30–24, Michigan defeated Ohio State to secure a berth to the Big Ten championship game. This was Michigan’s third consecutive victory over the Buckeyes.
If No. 2 Michigan defeats No. 18 Iowa on Saturday in Indianapolis, they will make it to the College Football Playoffs for the third time in their history.
Partridge said in his post that there has been false reporting regarding the reasons behind his termination.
Furthermore, he declared, “I never destroyed any evidence connected to the ongoing investigation.”
The day before Michigan’s game against Maryland and the day after the school threw out a lawsuit against the Big Ten, which contested the conference’s decision to suspend head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games, Partridge was let go.
For the team’s matches against Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State, Harbaugh was not there.
Two weeks ago, Connor Stalions, the former employee at the focus of the probe, resigned.
He is charged with buying tickets to watch prospective Michigan opponents and sending individuals to those matches to capture team signals on camera.
The NCAA forbids in-person scouting as it investigates the level of organization and knowledge behind the scam.
Partridge said he was fired on Nov. 17 for violating a university mandate not to discuss an ongoing NCAA investigation with anyone connected to the Michigan Football Program, according to a termination letter he received from athletic director Warde Manuel.
Partridge stated, “Even though I am deeply disappointed in the University’s choice to fire me, it does not alter my love and support for Coach Jim Harbaugh, the coaches, and the players of Team 144 as they continue their pursuit of a National Championship.”
Partridge was in his first year of a two-year term at Michigan.
Prior to moving to Mississippi, he was employed by Harbaugh from 2016 to 2019. During his first tenure with the Wolverines, he was first appointed as the team’s director of player personnel and later promoted to assistant coach for four years.
