Following his arrest early Saturday morning for allegedly operating a vehicle while intoxicated, Greg Scruggs, the new defensive line coach for Michigan football, has been placed on indefinite suspension by the team. The announcement of the suspension came from U-M coach Sherrone Moore in a statement issued on Saturday afternoon.
In the statement, Moore acknowledged Scruggs’ mistake and the accountability he has taken for his actions. The football program and athletic department have decided to suspend Scruggs indefinitely while they further investigate the details of the incident.
The arrest took place eight days after Michigan officially introduced Scruggs as their defensive line coach. While a police report is not yet available, the Ann Arbor Police Department confirmed the incident to The Detroit News. Scruggs, aged 33, has previously coached defensive line at Cincinnati, the New York Jets, and Wisconsin. He was hired to replace Mike Elston, who departed for the Los Angeles Chargers during the offseason. Scruggs joined a defensive coaching staff led by experienced defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale.
Scruggs’ hiring was announced by the Wolverines on March 8, with head coach Sherrone Moore praising him as both a great football coach and an exceptional person. It’s worth noting that Scruggs, a Cincinnati native who had a successful college career at Louisville, previously faced a suspension during his college days due to a DUI incident. After spending six seasons in the NFL, Scruggs joined Cincinnati’s coaching staff in 2018, initially as a director of player development before being promoted to defensive line coach in 2020.
The penalties for impaired driving in Michigan vary depending on factors such as the individual’s bodily alcohol content (BAC) and whether it is a first offense. In the case of a BAC below .17 and a first offense, potential punishments may include a fine of up to $500, a jail term of up to 93 days, up to 360 hours of community service, a license suspension of up to 180 days, and six points added to the driver’s license. According to the Michigan Vehicle Code, if a conviction for impaired driving occurs within seven years of a previous offense, it is considered a second offense.
The Michigan Insider has made a request to obtain the police report from the Ann Arbor Police Department and intends to provide further updates on this matter as more information becomes available.
