(ANN ARBOR) - The NCAA announced a four-year, show-cause order for former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh on Wednesday for impermissible contact with recruits and players during the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively banning him from college athletics until August 2028. The NCAA said Harbaugh, who left his alma mater to coach the Los Angeles Chargers after last season's undefeated national championship, “failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance and violated head coach responsibility obligations." “Harbaugh engaged in unethical conduct and failed to cooperate when he denied any involvement in impermissible recruiting contacts despite substantial information to the contrary,” the NCAA said in a 48 page decision that several times suggested the coach was not truthful with investigators. Harbaugh will only face the punishment if he makes an unexpected return to college football within the next four years. The recruiting case is unrelated to the NCAA’s investigation into impermissible in-person scouting and sign stealing allegations that came up during Michigan’s championship season in 2023 and resulted in a three-game suspension of Harbaugh by the Big Ten Conference. Multiple infractions cases in such a short time period could prompt the NCAA to treat Michigan as a repeat offender, opening the school up to harsher penalties in the sign-stealing case. New Michigan coach Sherrone Moore is facing allegations he violated NCAA rules related to the investigation into scouting and sign-stealing, three people briefed on a pending notice of allegations told The Associated Press last weekend. All spoke on condition of anonymity because the notice was confidential. The NCAA had already put Michigan on three years of probation along with a fine and recruiting limits after reaching a negotiated resolution in the case. Harbaugh did not go along with the agreement, contesting allegations he failed to cooperate with investigators, and his case was handled separately. The order runs through August 6, 2028. It requires any school wanting to hire Harbaugh over the next four years to suspend him for the first full season. After that, Harbaugh would be still be barred from athletics-related activities, including team travel, practice, video study, recruiting and team meetings until the order expires. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel noted the school has already accepted the sanctions and served many of the penalties.