Associated Press: Michigan director of football operations, blamed in NCAA probe, resigns

Posted on Wed, Jul 14, 2010 : 2:54 p.m.

Brad Labadie, who spent 10 years with the Michigan football program - most recently as director of football operations - has resigned.

Brad Labadie

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon confirmed the move Wednesday, insisting it was made for family reasons and was unrelated to an ongoing NCAA probe.

Labadie and coach Rich Rodriguez were among the several people who received a letter of reprimand from the school for playing a role in what the NCAA said were major rule violations. Labadie was blamed for failing to correctly and promptly file forms tracking hours players spent with the team.

An NCAA hearing on the case is planned for Aug. 13-14 in Seattle.

As director of football operations, Labadie's duties included working with players on a daily basis and as a resource outside of football, according to Michigan's athletic website.

"This is a conversation Brad's been having with the coaches, as I understand it, for quite some time," Brandon told the Detroit Free Press Wednesday. "He's in a job, you talk about 24/7, this is a guy who devotes an inordinate amount of time to the program and has served us well. But he's been thinking about a change for quite some time, and this opportunity (for an outside job) availed itself.

"Once you get the maize and blue blood running through your veins ... . He'll miss it, but I think he's made a decision that he thinks is in the best interest of his career and his family."

Labadie was promoted to director of football operations by former Wolverines' coach Lloyd Carr after spending the first part of his career at Michigan as the coordinator of player development.

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