The football coach for the University of Michigan, Sherrone Moore, was arrested only hours after being terminated by the institution for having an “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member.
Moore, age 39, was apprehended by local authorities in Saline, just outside Ann Arbor, on Wednesday before being handed over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department nearby.
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A spokesperson from the police informed ESPN that they have initiated an “investigation into potential charges,” although the specific details of the investigation have not been disclosed.
An insider told ABC Detroit that the alleged incident occurred at the residence of an unidentified University of Michigan employee.
It was previously reported that an internal investigation by the university uncovered “credible evidence” indicating that Moore had “engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
“This behavior clearly violates University policy, and U-M maintains a zero-tolerance approach to such actions,” stated Michigan University in a comment cited by ESPN.
Head football coach for the University of Michigan, Sherrone Moore, has been jailed just hours after being fired for having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Student Lena Reeves expressed to MLive that the firing was “pretty crazy,” but noted that she wasn’t shocked because “it’s happening a lot with individuals in high coaching roles.”
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David Lightman, a senior, mentioned that the allegations against the Michigan Wolverine coach were “really disappointing.”
“He was given a fantastic opportunity to be our coach, and he certainly did not take advantage of that opportunity and showed disrespect to the athletic department and the university,” he commented.
The team’s safety, Brandyn Hillman, simply expressed his reaction with “wow” beneath a post regarding the incident on X.
Nevertheless, anticipation is rising for the newly assigned interim coach, Biff Poggi. The new coach effectively guided the team in two games this season, while Moore was serving a suspension related to a different matter.
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“He appears very enthusiastic and truly loves football and the team,” Reeves communicated to MLive. “Hopefully that will benefit our team and our school, and perhaps we’ll have a better season next year and perform well in the (Citrus) Bowl game this year.”
This was Moore’s second season as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Moore was finishing his second season as the Wolverines’ leader. He took on the role the year after the previous coach, Jim Harbaugh, led the team to a National Title and subsequently left for the NFL.
Moore had previously worked as offensive coordinator under Harbaugh and served as interim head coach during Harbaugh’s suspension. The former coach was the first African American to lead the University of Michigan’s football team.
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He is also a father of three daughters and has been married since 2015.
Initial reports regarding the arrest did not identify Moore, with a statement from Pittsfield Township police merely indicating that authorities had responded to a location concerning an alleged assault.
Following the identification of Moore, Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, praised the university’s decision to terminate him.
“On a serious note, over the years many institutions have turned a blind eye to scandals. I want to express my pride that Michigan chose not to follow that path,” Portnoy stated on X Wednesday.
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“Sherrone broke the ethical code, and it cost him his position. It’s a hard lesson, but it’s the Michigan Man Way.”
“Leaders and best for a reason. Proud to be a Michigan Wolverine tonight.”
Associate coach Biff Poggi has been named as the University of Michigan’s interim head football coach (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Moore was also implicated in a sign-stealing scandal that resulted in the NCAA imposing a $20 million fine on the University of Michigan.
Sign-stealing refers to the practice of deciphering an opponent’s hand signals. The NCAA prohibits schools from sending scouts to observe future opponents’ games and from utilizing electronic devices to record these signals.
Moore was handed a three-game suspension for his involvement in the scandal, which he was expected to complete in the next year. His team prevailed in the College Football Playoff in 2023, even though the scandal had come to light earlier that year.
The Independent has reached out to the Pittsfield Township Police Department and the University of Michigan for their comments.
