Partridge conflicts claims on dismissal from U-M

• Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Personnel WriterNov 27, 2023, 05:31 PM ET

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  • ESPN personnel author
  • Joined ESPN in 2011
  • Finished from Central Michigan

Previous Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partridge released a statement on Monday, contesting claims about why he was fired.Partridge was fired on

Nov. 17 amid the NCAA’s examination into previous Michigan staffer Connor Stalions and in-person scouting. Partridge published on X that he had no understanding of Stalions ‘sign-stealing scheme and that he was fired for breach of policy regarding the examination.”As discussed to me by Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel personally on the morning of November 17, 2023, and as set forth in my termination letter of the exact same date, signed by Doug Gnodtke, Michigan Athletics Chief of Personnel, I was terminated due to the fact that of a failure’to follow the University directive not to discuss an ongoing NCAA examination with anybody associated with the Michigan Football Program’,” the declaration read.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Partridge also rejected reports that he destroyed evidence associated to the examination and that he is

very

disappointed in the university’s choice to end his employment.The decision to fire Partridge came after the university chose to drop its legal battle with the Big Ten Conference and that coach Jim Harbaugh would serve the rest of his three-game suspension rather than combat it. Harbaugh has given that completed his suspension and will coach for the Wolverines in the Big 10 National championship on Saturday against Iowa.A source told ESPN that information gleaned in NCAA interviews led in part to the approval of the Big Ten decision and Partridge’s shooting.

The NCAA’s examination is still continuous and has not yet reached a conclusion.