Dec. 10 (UPI) — The University of Michigan on Wednesday fired head football coach Sherrone Moore after the public school found he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
Moore, the Big Ten school’s first Black coach, compiled a 17-8 record for two seasons after serving as offensive coordinator when the Wolverines won the national title in January 2024.
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«U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,» Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement to the media. «Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.»
No details about the relationship have been released though The Detroit News reported an outside investigation this week was conducted after an internal inquiry didn’t reveal evidence of an inappropriate relationship.
Moore, 39, married his wife, Kelli, in 2015, and they have three daughters.
Possible criminal charges are being investigated.
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At 4:10 p.m. EST, the Pittsfield Township Police Department said officers responded to a call for an alleged assault investigation, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Thirty-three minutes later, the school announced the firing. The termination has not been posted on the school’s website or social media accounts.
Police in Saline, near the Ann Arbor campus, said in a statement to ESPN that they «assisted in locating and detaining Moore.»
«Mr. Moore was turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department for investigation into potential charges,» the authorities said.
He was booked in the Washtenaw County Jail at 8:30 p.m., according to court records.
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Moore signed a five-year contract before the 2024 season for at least $5.5 million annually. There is a $13.89 million buyout but his firing could void the amount, CBS Sports reported.
Biff Poggi, 66, was appointed interim head football coach.
Michigan (9-3) is scheduled to play Texas (9-3) in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Last year, Michigan went 7-5 during the regular season and beat Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on New Year’s Eve.
Poggi returned to Michigan as offensive coordinator and also filled in when Moore served a university-imposed suspension for games against Central Michigan and Nebraska in a sign-stealing saga. Moore was to be suspended for the first game of the 2026 season as a continuation of his punishment for the scouting scandal involving former staffer Connor Stalions.
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Moore was suspended for one game in the 2023 season as part of a self-imposed penalty for a recruiting violation.
Moore had been on Jim Harbaugh’s staff since 2018.
On Jan. 26, 18 days after Michigan won the national title, Moore replaced Harbaugh, who went to the NFL Los Angeles Chargers.
During the championship season, he was the interim coach for the Wolverines for the final three games as Harbaugh served a suspension for his role in the sign-stealing saga.
Before coming to Michigan, Moore worked on Central Michigan’s staff.
University of Michigan Regents in January 2022 fired President Mark Schlissel after an investigation found inappropriate conduct with an employee.
Domenico Grasso became interim president in May after the resignation of Santa Ono, who was announced as the University’s Florida president but the state board rejected his candidacy.
