The woman at the center of former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s downfall believes the school failed to stop Moore from using his power as boss to manipulate, harass and exploit her for years, according to a new statement from her attorney.
The statement is the first public comment related to Paige Shiver. Moore entered the apartment of Paige Schiffer, Moore’s 32-year-old former administrative assistant with whom Coach Moore had an extramarital affair. So far, she has not publicly linked herself to Moore or his criminal case.
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The statement from her attorney came hours after Moore and prosecutors reached an agreement late Friday, March 6, in which Moore would plead no contest to two misdemeanor counts.
Former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore appears in 14A District Court in Ann Arbor on Friday, March 6, 2026. After Moore pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges, an attorney for his former administrative assistant, Paige Shiver, said she hoped the school would hold her accountable. Moore had a two-year affair with him.
While the criminal case may be resolved soon, statements from Schieffer’s attorneys make it clear they want the university to take action.
“This case involves more than just one horrific incident,” two Chicago attorneys, Andrew M. Stroth and Steven A. Hart, wrote in a statement. “It raises urgent and disturbing questions about how a powerful figure in a major college athletics program was able to commit years of inappropriate behavior against subordinates without meaningful intervention or oversight.”
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“Our client strongly believes that she may not be the only person who has experienced inappropriate, coercive or predatory behavior by this individual.”
In a brief interview on Saturday, March 7, Stross said Schieffer hired himself and Hart several months ago. They did not want to speak publicly until the criminal case was concluded.
Now, they want Michigan to take responsibility.
“The University of Michigan is one of the most respected institutions in the world, yet their athletic department has a pattern of systemic failure and practices. Our pursuit on behalf of Ms. Schiffer is to obtain a level of accountability and justice so this does not happen to anyone else,” Stross said.
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A spokesman for the University of Michigan and Moore’s attorney declined to comment.
Moore pleaded no contest Friday afternoon to two misdemeanor counts: “malicious use of a service provided by a telecommunications service provider” and criminal trespass. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the felony and two additional misdemeanors they initially filed against Moore. Moore is scheduled to be sentenced in April; no jail time is expected.
After the hearing, Moore’s attorney, Ellen Michaels, reiterated that her client was innocent of the original charges, while noting that he was “happy to put this matter behind him and move on.” “We hope this resolution ensures accountability and gives victims the opportunity to heal and move forward,” said Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit.
Moore, 40, was fired from the school on Dec. 10 after the school determined he had an inappropriate relationship with Shiver and was dishonest about it. Schiffer filed a report with the university about the relationship that day, according to police records. That afternoon, prosecutors said, Moore broke into Schiffer’s apartment and grabbed two butter knives – something her attorney reiterated in a statement.
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Moore admitted to being in a relationship with Schiffer but denied assaulting or threatening her with any weapon, police records show.
Schiffer’s attorney said what happened that day at her apartment “left our client concerned for her safety and deeply traumatized.”
Their latest statement is clearly focused on the university, specifically calling on university leadership and the Board of Trustees to “take the swift and decisive action necessary to remedy the university’s painful failings and restore genuine trust and respect among employees, students and alumni.”
“Our client came forward at great personal cost because she believed silence allowed abuses of power to continue,” the statement read. “She hopes that by speaking out, others who may have been intimidated into silence will also find the strength to share their experiences.”
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Shivers’ attorneys have called for an investigation into Moore and the university. This fall, the University of Michigan hired Jenner & Block, a national law firm, to investigate the circumstances surrounding Moore. The scope of the work was expanded in late 2025 to include a broader review of the athletic department’s culture.
The most recent invoice shows UM has paid $2 million to the law firm Jenner & Block. That total is expected to rise as there is no indication of when the company will be able to complete its work.
As of this week, Shiver had not filed a lawsuit over the matter. But one might come. On Friday, Michaels said Moore did not want to plead, in part because of the potential for civil liability. A guilty plea could be used against him in a civil lawsuit.
Last week, a University of Michigan spokesman confirmed that Schiffer’s contract to work in the athletic department was not renewed. Records show it expired in late February.
Please contact Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Sheron Moore’s former assistant wants U of M to be held ‘responsible,’ attorney says
