A former University of Michigan football coach claims the school was working to hide details of its sign-stealing scandal and also knew about former head coach Sherrone Moore's affair with a staff member for years before it led to his firing.
As reported by USA TODAY, former Wolverines linebackers coach Chris Partridge sued the university, athletics director Warde Manuel and Michigan's Board of Regents for wrongful termination after he was fired during the 2023 sign-stealing scandal orchestrated by assistant Connor Stalions. A current linebackers coach for the Seattle Seahawks, Partridge was cleared of wrongdoing by the NCAA and was never alleged to have known about the sign-stealing system, USA TODAY's Austin Curtright reported.
According to Curtright, Partridge sued the university in March, but the filing was updated in June with 20 additional pages of documents and including former Michigan president Santa Ono and Big Ten Conference commissioner Tony Petitti as defendants.
"His claims have been brought back to light after Manuel's future with the school is reportedly in doubt amid a third-party investigation into the athletic department from law firm Jenner & Block, according to multiple reports July 12," Curtright wrote Monday.
A Michigan Board of Regents meeting is set for Thursday, and Manuel's status is believed to be decided before then, according to Curtright, citing multiple reports.
According documents obtained by the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, the lawsuit alleges Michigan's numerous attempts to cover up scandal:
- "Manuel and other leaders allegedly knew about Moore’s relationship with a staff member “for years without taking action to protect the employee.”
- "Ono allegedly hid key findings of a private law firm’s investigation into then-assistant football coach Matthew Weiss. Federal prosecutors say Weiss illegally used school devices and other equipment to inappropriately obtain thousands of student photos, records and other personal information. Weiss denies engaging in criminal conduct."
- "Ono allegedly directed a handful of key people – including Manuel – to take no notes or any other records of their meeting with the law firm when it presented the findings of its investigation."
- "Ono and Manuel never, “reported the evidence of cheating found on Weiss’s computer, the law firm’s involvement, or the results of the investigation to the Board of Regents, the Compliance Services Office, or the NCAA … [and] failed to hold itself accountable for the 'sign-stealing' scheme, in violation of both its NCAA requirements,” the lawsuit states."
Per Curtright, Partridge claims the school used him as a "scapegoat" amid the NCAA's investigation into the program. The lawsuit also states the university didn't push back on allegations that Partridge was destroying evidence during the sign-stealing investigation, despite he not having knowledge of the situation.
He also stated he was ultimately fired for telling a player to get a lawyer, according to the Detroit Free Press.
