Jim Harbaugh's right-hand man with the Michigan football program – his long-time friend Jim Minick – has been suspended indefinitely following a weekend arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Harbaugh announced the suspension early this evening after reports surfaced about two hours earlier of Minick's arrest.
"Jim Minick made a regrettable decision last week and was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated," Harbaugh said in a statement. "Jim makes no excuses, regrets this decision and understands the consequences for his actions. Due to the serious nature of this event, Jim Minick has been suspended indefinitely and we ask for your understanding while we address the situation."
Harbaugh, football coach since Dec. 30, hired Minick in January as his associate athletic director for football. They grew up together in Ann Arbor. He recently retired from the Marines, and he is referred to as the Colonel.
Minick, 51, was arrested around 2:30 a.m. Saturday following a single-car accident outside Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township Director of Public Safety Matt Harshberger told the Free Press.
"Officers arrived and the only occupant and driver was Jim Minick," Harshberger said. "The investigation resulted in the officer making an arrest for OWI."
Harshberger said Minick told the arresting officer he crashed his 2015 GMC Yukon after he was cut off by another vehicle. "We haven't been able to establish that," Harshberger said.
Even though the Yukon ended up in a ditch, no one was injured in the crash, which occurred near State Street and Airport Drive.
Police had to conduct a search warrant for a blood analysis after Minick refused a Breathalyzer test, Harshberger said.
"He was taken into custody and held at the Washtenaw County Jail and released after he became sober," Harshberger said. "We're waiting now on a lab analysis to be completed before submitting anything to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office."
As far as what charges Minick could face, Harshberger said it's not clear.
"It all depends on what the test results come back as far as the level of alcohol in his system," he said. "I don't want to speculate really."
Minick did not respond to a Free Press request for comment.
WJBK-TV (Channel 2 in Detroit) first reported the incident late this afternoon.
In a statement to the station, Minick said: "I'm not going to make any excuses. I'll face the consequences of my actions. I regret the difficult position in which this has put my family and my employer."
Minick often drives Harbaugh to events. They often are together at games, charity events, banquets and clinics. Harbaugh and Minick were on the sideline together for the Ravens-Steelers playoff game Jan. 3 in Pittsburgh. Harbaugh's brother, John, coaches the Ravens.
Refusing a Breathalyzer test in Michigan results in a one-year suspension of a driver's license by the Secretary of State.
"His license was not confiscated and he will have a SOS hearing regarding the refusal in the future," Harshberger said.
On March 3, Minick and Harbaugh, who were heading to Metro Airport, came to the aid of two people hurt in a serious car crash on I-94 in Ann Arbor. Later, Harbaugh tweeted: "Proud of my friend Colonel Jim Minick today! He took charge calling on combat training I was just following his instructions."
Harbaugh and Minick's friendship goes back to the days Harbaugh's father, Jack, worked for Bo Schembechler at U-M. And Schembechler once helped Minick's father, Tom, campaign for and get elected Washtenaw County sheriff (he left that post in 1984 to head security at Domino's Farms in Ann Arbor).
Early in his coaching career — following five years at U-M and an NFL career that ended in 2001 — Harbaugh had to deal with his own drinking and driving incident. It was October 2005, his second season as head coach at the University of San Diego, and Harbaugh was arrested on a DUI charge in Encinitas, Calif. He was pulled over after running a stop sign and refused to take a field sobriety test. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was sentenced to three years' probation, a $1,300 fine and an educational program.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported his blood-alcohol level was .09, above the state limit of .08. "I feel I've had a lifetime of good social decision-making," Harbaugh told the Union-Tribune at the time. "This was a bad one. I'll vow right here and now it will never happen again. People who know me know this is not an indication of my character."
If Minick were not reinstated, it's not clear who would replace him, if anyone. As a career military man, Minick has no background in intercollegiate football. He was hired because of his leadership abilities and trusted relationship with Harbaugh. The top operations position — despite the associate athletic director title — is chosen by the football coach and serves as his primary confidant, his chief of staff and his liaison to the athletic department. NCAA rules do not allow him to participate in on-field coaching.
Harbaugh hired Rick Finotti, a longtime football coach at Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward, as his director of operations. Finotti deals more directly with players and their day-to-day responsibilities.
Under former coach Brady Hoke, Mike Vollmar served in Minick's job for two years. When he left for Tennessee, Bob Lopez was promoted to the job from operations director. Since Hoke's firing, according to the university directory, Lopez has been a sport administrator in the athletic department.
Elisha Anderson, Kevin Bull and Mark Snyder of the Free Press contributed to this report.
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Harbaugh announced the suspension early this evening after reports surfaced about two hours earlier of Minick's arrest.
"Jim Minick made a regrettable decision last week and was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated," Harbaugh said in a statement. "Jim makes no excuses, regrets this decision and understands the consequences for his actions. Due to the serious nature of this event, Jim Minick has been suspended indefinitely and we ask for your understanding while we address the situation."
Harbaugh, football coach since Dec. 30, hired Minick in January as his associate athletic director for football. They grew up together in Ann Arbor. He recently retired from the Marines, and he is referred to as the Colonel.
Minick, 51, was arrested around 2:30 a.m. Saturday following a single-car accident outside Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township Director of Public Safety Matt Harshberger told the Free Press.
"Officers arrived and the only occupant and driver was Jim Minick," Harshberger said. "The investigation resulted in the officer making an arrest for OWI."
Harshberger said Minick told the arresting officer he crashed his 2015 GMC Yukon after he was cut off by another vehicle. "We haven't been able to establish that," Harshberger said.
Even though the Yukon ended up in a ditch, no one was injured in the crash, which occurred near State Street and Airport Drive.
Police had to conduct a search warrant for a blood analysis after Minick refused a Breathalyzer test, Harshberger said.
"He was taken into custody and held at the Washtenaw County Jail and released after he became sober," Harshberger said. "We're waiting now on a lab analysis to be completed before submitting anything to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office."
As far as what charges Minick could face, Harshberger said it's not clear.
"It all depends on what the test results come back as far as the level of alcohol in his system," he said. "I don't want to speculate really."
Minick did not respond to a Free Press request for comment.
WJBK-TV (Channel 2 in Detroit) first reported the incident late this afternoon.
In a statement to the station, Minick said: "I'm not going to make any excuses. I'll face the consequences of my actions. I regret the difficult position in which this has put my family and my employer."
Minick often drives Harbaugh to events. They often are together at games, charity events, banquets and clinics. Harbaugh and Minick were on the sideline together for the Ravens-Steelers playoff game Jan. 3 in Pittsburgh. Harbaugh's brother, John, coaches the Ravens.
Refusing a Breathalyzer test in Michigan results in a one-year suspension of a driver's license by the Secretary of State.
"His license was not confiscated and he will have a SOS hearing regarding the refusal in the future," Harshberger said.
On March 3, Minick and Harbaugh, who were heading to Metro Airport, came to the aid of two people hurt in a serious car crash on I-94 in Ann Arbor. Later, Harbaugh tweeted: "Proud of my friend Colonel Jim Minick today! He took charge calling on combat training I was just following his instructions."
Harbaugh and Minick's friendship goes back to the days Harbaugh's father, Jack, worked for Bo Schembechler at U-M. And Schembechler once helped Minick's father, Tom, campaign for and get elected Washtenaw County sheriff (he left that post in 1984 to head security at Domino's Farms in Ann Arbor).
Early in his coaching career — following five years at U-M and an NFL career that ended in 2001 — Harbaugh had to deal with his own drinking and driving incident. It was October 2005, his second season as head coach at the University of San Diego, and Harbaugh was arrested on a DUI charge in Encinitas, Calif. He was pulled over after running a stop sign and refused to take a field sobriety test. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was sentenced to three years' probation, a $1,300 fine and an educational program.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported his blood-alcohol level was .09, above the state limit of .08. "I feel I've had a lifetime of good social decision-making," Harbaugh told the Union-Tribune at the time. "This was a bad one. I'll vow right here and now it will never happen again. People who know me know this is not an indication of my character."
If Minick were not reinstated, it's not clear who would replace him, if anyone. As a career military man, Minick has no background in intercollegiate football. He was hired because of his leadership abilities and trusted relationship with Harbaugh. The top operations position — despite the associate athletic director title — is chosen by the football coach and serves as his primary confidant, his chief of staff and his liaison to the athletic department. NCAA rules do not allow him to participate in on-field coaching.
Harbaugh hired Rick Finotti, a longtime football coach at Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward, as his director of operations. Finotti deals more directly with players and their day-to-day responsibilities.
Under former coach Brady Hoke, Mike Vollmar served in Minick's job for two years. When he left for Tennessee, Bob Lopez was promoted to the job from operations director. Since Hoke's firing, according to the university directory, Lopez has been a sport administrator in the athletic department.
Elisha Anderson, Kevin Bull and Mark Snyder of the Free Press contributed to this report.
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