UM football assistant resigns after OWI arrest; police report shows BAC was twice the legal limit

Now-former Michigan defensive line coach Greg Scruggs had a blood-alcohol content twice the state's legal limit when he was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated Saturday morning in downtown Ann Arbor, according to a police report obtained by The Detroit News.

Scruggs resigned his position late Thursday morning, new head coach Sherrone Moore said in a statement. Moore declined further comment.

Ann Arbor Police arrested Scruggs after 2 a.m. Saturday, when they came across his vehicle stopped at the intersection of East William Street and South Fourth Avenue, with his hazard lights on.

According to the police report, Scruggs told officers he had been at Chop House, where he said he had two drinks, until 11:30 p.m., and then he went to Pretzel Bell, where he said he had no drinks. Officers smelled alcohol on his breath and observed bloodshot eyes, according to the police report. They administered field sobriety tests to Scruggs, who swayed during a one-leg-stand test, according to the police report.

According to the police report, Scruggs said he was new in town, and wasn't familiar with downtown. He said he was close enough to walk to his residence.

Scruggs, who told officers he was working late, "beating his ass," was arrested and taken to the Ann Arbor Police Station, and his vehicle, a 2021 black GMC Yukon Denali, was towed.

At the police station, Scruggs initially refused a breathalyzer, according to the police report, before asking officers what would take longer: taking the test or not taking the test. He said he had a work meeting at 10 a.m. Scruggs eventually agreed to take the test at 3:34 a.m., and blew a 0.16 on the first and, five minutes later, 0.17 on a second.

The legal limit in Michigan is 0.08.

Scruggs, 33, was suspended indefinitely by Moore later Saturday.

"Greg made an unfortunate mistake and was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated," Moore said in a statement released Saturday afternoon. "He made no excuses and has taken accountability for his actions. The football program and athletic department have suspended Greg indefinitely while we review details of the incident."

According to court records, this was Scruggs' third alcohol-related arrest. In October 2013, he was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence in Washington State, where he was working for the Seattle Seahawks. That was pleaded down to reckless driving. In 2011, Scruggs was arrested on a DUI charge while he was playing at Louisville. He was kicked off the team and missed his team's bowl game.

Scruggs was officially hired by Moore on March 8, after he spent 2023 as the defensive line coach at Wisconsin.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984