December 10 (UPI) — The University of Michigan fired head football coach Sherron Moore on Wednesday after the public school discovered he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
Moore, the first Black coach at a Big Ten Conference school, went 17-8 in two seasons as offensive coordinator before the Wolverines won the national championship in January 2024.
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“University of Michigan head football coach Sheron Moore has been fired with cause, effective immediately,” Michigan athletic director Ward Manuel said in a statement to the media. “Following a university investigation, there is credible evidence that Coach Moore had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. This conduct is a clear violation of university policy and the University of Michigan has zero tolerance for such conduct.”
Details about the relationship have not been released, although The Detroit News reported that an external investigation was launched this week after an internal investigation found no evidence of an inappropriate relationship.
Moore, 39, married his wife Kelly in 2015 and has three daughters.
Possible criminal charges are under investigation.
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The Detroit Free Press reported that at 4:10 p.m. ET, the Pittsfield Township Police Department said officers received a call investigating an alleged assault.
Thirty-three minutes later, the school announced the expulsion. The termination agreement has not yet 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 has been turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department for investigation of potential charges,” authorities said.
He was booked into the Washtenaw County Jail at 8:30 p.m., according to court records.
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Moore signed a five-year contract through the 2024 season, making at least $5.5 million per year. According to CBS Sports, the acquisition was for $13.89 million, but firing him could void that amount.
Biff Poggi, 66, named interim football head coach.
Michigan (9-3) is scheduled to face Texas (9-3) in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Last year, Michigan State went 7-5 during the regular season and defeated Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve in Tampa, Florida.
preciousggi returned to Michigan State as offensive coordinator and served as offensive coordinator when Moore was suspended for card-stealing incidents in college games against Central Michigan and Nebraska. Moore will be suspended for the first game of the 2026 season as a continuation of his punishment stemming from the scouting scandal involving former staff member Connor Stallions.
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Moore was suspended one game during the 2023 season as part of a self-imposed penalty for recruiting violations.
Moore has been an employee of Jim Harbaugh since 2018.
On January 26, 18 days after Michigan won the national championship, Moore replaced Harbaugh, who left for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.
During the championship season, where he served as the Wolverines’ interim coach for the final three games, Harbaugh was suspended for his role in the sign-stealing incident.
Prior to coming to Michigan, Moore was on the staff at Mid-Michigan.
The University of Michigan’s Board of Trustees fired President Mark Schlissel in January 2022 after an investigation found inappropriate behavior by an employee.
Domenico Grasso became interim chancellor in May after Santa Ono resigned and Santa Ono was announced as UF president, but the state Board of Trustees rejected his candidacy.
