The NCAA handed down a four-year show-cause order for former Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh after determining the coach had impermissible contact with recruits and players during the COVID-19 restricted period. 

The organization determined Harbaugh “engaged in unethical conduct, failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance and violated head coach responsibility obligations.”  The governing body also ruled that Harbaugh was not truthful with investigators about meeting with recruits during the moratorium.

Despite the sanctions that were placed on Harbaugh, Michigan revealed plans to welcome back its national championship winning coach as an honorary captain for the football team’s home opener later this month. The Wolverines host Fresno State on Aug. 31.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel expressed excitement about hosting Harbaugh in Ann Arbor to help kick off the 2024 season.

“I look forward to seeing him,” Manuel said during an appearance on the 1 Star Recruits podcast this week. “He’ll be an honorary captain for our first game. I look forward to having him back in Ann Arbor for that game.”

JIM HARBAUGH DENIES COMMITTING VIOLATIONS AFTER NCAA’S REPORTED NOTICE OF ALLEGATIONS: ‘I DO NOT APOLOGIZE’

Although Harbaugh will be effectively barred from coaching at the college football level for the next few years, he is currently focused on preparing the Los Angeles Chargers for the upcoming regular season. 

Harbaugh coached the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff national championship in January. Just over two weeks later, he was named the next head coach of the Chargers. 

Michigan was previously placed on probation for three years and fined. The football program also faces recruiting limits, all of which were included in a negotiated resolution in the case.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh instructs on the field during the first day of training camp at The Bolt. (Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports)

Harbaugh also missed Michigan’s 2023 season opener due to a three-game suspension the university self-imposed as part of the recruiting investigation. 

The recruiting case is separate from the NCAA’s investigation into impermissible in-person scouting and sign-stealing allegations that cast a shadow over Michigan’s undefeated 2023 campaign. The Big Ten Conference ultimately suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the 2023 regular season amid the fallout from the alleged advanced scouting scheme.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines walks the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 9, 2021 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

Connor Stalions is at the center of a probe into an off-campus scouting operation. Stalions, who has not cooperated with the NCAA in its investigation, will break his silence Aug. 27 on Netflix when the documentary “Untold: Sign Stealer” makes its debut on the streaming service.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Sherrone Moore was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach after Harbaugh bolted for the NFL. He handled the head coaching duties on multiple occasions while Harbaugh served his suspensions last season.

But, Moore is also facing his own allegations as he is suspected of violating NCAA rules related to the investigation into the sign-stealing scandal, sources told The Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Michigan’s first case this year of Eastern equine encephalitis was detected in a horse in Van Buren County, the state announced.

The mosquito-borne virus was found in a Standardbred filly that was unvaccinated against EEE, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said in a news release this week. EEE is transmitted through mosquito bites to animals and people and cases are typically seen in Michigan in late summer to early fall, according to MDARD.

“It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to cause a severe illness,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, is quoted saying in the news release. “We urge Michiganders to take precautions such as using an EPA-registered insect repellent when outdoors, avoiding areas where mosquitoes are present if possible, and wearing clothing to cover arms and legs to prevent bites.”

Bagdasarian called EEE “one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases” in the country. According to the CDC, about 30% of people with EEE die.

This is the only EEE case so far this year in Michigan, but West Nile virus has been detected in 48 mosquito pools, 12 wild birds and one person, according to the news release.

“While this is the first case of EEE detected this season, other mosquito-borne diseases have been discovered throughout Michigan, including one human case of West Nile virus,” State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland is quoted saying in the news release. “These detections clearly indicate disease is circulating in the state’s mosquito population, making it crucial to protect animals and people against these insects.”

More: ‘Full House’ actor, Michigan native Dave Coulier donates $125,000 to Children’s Hospital

More: Judge drops remaining murder charge against Michael Jackson-Bolanos in Samantha Woll case

To protect animals, the state offered suggestions, including talking to a veterinarian about vaccinating horses against EEE and other mosquito-borne diseases; eliminating standing water; placing livestock in barns under fans and keeping pets inside during peak mosquito activity, and using an inspect repellent on animals that is approved for the species.

The state recommends people protect themselves by applying insect repellents, wearing light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outside and emptying water from potential mosquito breeding sites, like buckets and kiddie pools.

For more information about EEE, go to www.michigan.gov/EEE.

EAST LANSING, Mich. — One of the biggest transfers Michigan State acquired after its “Spring Showcase” in April was running back Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams.

Lynch-Adams joined the Spartans after two years at the University of Massachusetts. Prior to that, he spent two seasons at Rutgers. He comes off an impressive 2023 season in which he was named to the Phil Steele All-Independent First Team.

The transfer running back addressed the media following Michigan State’s practice on Thursday.

Below is a partial transcript of Lynch-Adams’ presser:

Q: What made you join MSU?

Lynch-Adams: “Really just the staff. I got a chance to talk to the players. Aaron Alexander was here, was at Massachussetts with me, and that was kind of like my inside connection to kind of get some feel for the things that were going on. But from everything he was kind of telling me, it was a really good fit. And I was in the Big Ten before, and now, I reallty want to be back in the Big again. So, God blessed me to be here again.”

Q: How are you most like Nate Carter and what’s the biggest difference between you two?

Lynch-Adams: I like Nate a lot. I like his game. Real fast, elusive guy. The biggest difference? I don’t know too many differences. I think we’re pretty similar, but I do think we are different in a way. We’re not the same back. But I really like his game, really fast, really elusive, and I like watching him work every day.”

You can view Coach Jonathan Smith’s presser from Monday below:

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.