Chris Partridge, a former assistant coach at Michigan, is taking legal action against the university, its board of regents, and athletic director Warde Manuel. Partridge claims he was unjustly fired before Michigan clinched the 2023 national championship, asserting his dismissal violated his right to due process. He argues that he was made a "scapegoat" for advising a player to seek legal counsel.
The backdrop to Partridge's firing involves an NCAA investigation into Connor Stalions and a sign-stealing scheme that brought significant penalties to the program. Partridge's lawsuit, filed in U.S.
District Court, suggests that his termination was a strategic move influenced by the Big Ten Conference commissioner. The aim, Partridge claims, was to pressure Michigan and then-coach Jim Harbaugh to abandon their legal fight against Harbaugh’s three-game suspension tied to the investigation.
Since leaving Michigan, Partridge has found success in the NFL, recently winning a Super Bowl as the outside linebackers coach for the Seattle Seahawks.
In a statement, Partridge’s attorney, Liz Abdnour, emphasized his right to clear his name, describing him as a committed coach who was unfairly cut from college athletics due to institutional politics.
The lawsuit details Partridge’s account of advising a player to consult a lawyer before an NCAA interview, which he argues was his only supposed wrongdoing. He describes a meeting where Michigan’s assistant general counsel instructed coaches not to discuss the investigation, a directive Partridge found contradictory to their duty to support players.
The NCAA Committee on Infractions, in its report, found no evidence that Partridge interfered with their investigation. Partridge accuses Manuel of firing him without due process and spreading false information, including allegations of evidence destruction, which he denies.
Partridge contrasts his firing with how Manuel handled other allegations, such as those involving former coach Sherrone Moore, who faced different accusations.
In testimony to the Committee on Infractions, Manuel reportedly indicated that NCAA and Big Ten pressures led to hasty decisions, believing multiple individuals were involved in the sign-stealing.
Partridge also accuses Manuel of hindering his employment prospects, claiming he was "blacklisted" from other college opportunities. In an interview, Partridge recounted how a potential job fell through due to ongoing investigations.
The lawsuit outlines Partridge's struggles with depression, anxiety, and damage to his reputation and career, seeking compensation to be determined at trial.