why was jim harbaugh suspended

Jim Harbaugh was suspended due to NCAA recruiting violations and also for a sign-stealing scandal while he was head coach at Michigan. The NCAA imposed a one-season suspension and a four-year show-cause order on Harbaugh for impermissible contact with recruits and players during a period when access was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, labeling the case as Level I-Aggravated for unethical conduct and failure to promote compliance. This suspension bars him from coaching at any NCAA school in an athletic-related capacity during the penalty period. Additionally, the Big Ten Conference suspended Harbaugh for the last three regular-season games of Michigan's 2023 season because of his involvement in an illicit sign-stealing operation that compromised the integrity of competition. This operation involved illegally scouting opponents in-person, which is banned, and gave Michigan an unfair competitive advantage. The violations were substantial, leading to a probation period for Michigan and multiple sanctions for Harbaugh personally, including his suspension from coaching duties on game days during the 2023 season and a full-season suspension if he returns to college coaching, along with long-term show-cause penalties through 2028.