Former Michigan assistant Chris Patridge is suing the University, its Board of Trustees, and athletics director Warde Manuel over his firing as part of the 2023 Conor Stalions advanced scouting scandal.
Partridge was fired for allegedly destroying documents related to the case. Partridge denied all knowledge of, and participation in, the scheme, and his only involvement was telling a player who was nervous about an upcoming interview with the NCAA to get a lawyer.
"Unfortunately, the manner in which the termination of my employment and my role as a coach at Michigan has been reported is inaccurate and has resulted in people speculating," Partridge said upon his November 2023 firing. "And making assumptions about my knowledge of, and connection to, the sign-stealing allegations within the football program. "I want to be clear: I had no knowledge whatsoever of any in-person or illegal scouting, or illegal sign-stealing. Additionally, at no point did I destroy any evidence related to an ongoing investigation."
Partridge was essentially exonerated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions. "The panel concludes that the case record does not demonstrate that these violations occurred," the committee wrote in 2025.
Partridge's theory of the case is that he was scapegoated by Michigan during the heat of the scandal so that Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti would not release damaging information against Michigan and to stand down in the Big Ten's pursuit of punishment against the Wolverines. Michigan would go on to win the 2023 national title.
From ESPN, who broke the story:
Not only did the NCAA Committee on Infractions side with Partridge, but the lawsuit alleges that during the hearing, Manuel told the committee "he was under immense pressure at the time he fired Partridge" and "because of this pressure, he made hasty decisions."
Manuel, per the lawsuit, approached Partridge at the end of the hearing, "shook his hand and told him he was sorry Partridge had to go through this."
A former New Jersey high school coach who joined Jim Harbaugh's program as director of player personnel in 2015, Patridge landed as the Seattle Seahawks outside linebackers coach after his Michigan firing, and he remains with the reigning Super Bowl champions today. But he said his goal is to become a college head coach, which has become impossible under the cloud of an unjust firing. He is seeking compensation for lost wages, plus damages for the professional and personal toll of the firing.
"I always believe that the truth will eventually come out," Partridge told ESPN. "I went all the way through the process with the NCAA and the truth prevailed. And I feel I have to go all the way through the process with Michigan for the truth with Michigan to prevail."