Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore was still in jail Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after the university fired him for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
Immediate Aftermath
Court records show Moore, 39, remained incarcerated on Thursday. The jail did not disclose why he was held, what bond was set, or whether any court appearances were scheduled.
Police Response
The Pittsfield Township Police Department released a statement that did not name anyone. According to the statement, police were called to investigate an alleged assault in Pittsfield Township, a couple of miles south of Michigan Stadium, and took a person into custody.
“The incident was not random and there was no ongoing threat to public safety, police said, and the person was jailed pending a review of charges by prosecutors.” The statement added, “Given the nature of the allegations, the need to maintain the integrity of the investigation, and its current status at this time, we are prohibited from releasing additional details.”
University’s Rationale
Michigan said it fired Moore for cause after finding evidence of his relationship with the staffer, ending an up‑and‑down, two‑year tenure that saw the Wolverines take a step back on the field after winning the national championship and getting punished by the NCAA.
“This conduct constitutes a clear violation of university policy, and UM maintains zero tolerance for such behavior,” athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement.
Contract and Compensation
Moore signed a five‑year contract with a base annual salary of $5.5 million last year. According to the terms of his deal, the university will not have to buy out the remaining years of Moore’s contract because he was fired for cause.
Team Performance and Coaching Changes
Moore’s Wolverines finished 9‑3 this year after going 8‑5 in his debut season. The 18th‑ranked Wolverines (9‑3, 7‑2 Big Ten) are set to play No. 14 Texas on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl.
Biff Poggi, who filled in for Moore when he was suspended earlier this season, will serve as interim coach.
Background on Moore
Moore, from Derby, Kansas, didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school. He played for Butler County Community College in Kansas and as an offensive lineman for coach Bob Stoops at Oklahoma during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Louisville before moving on to Central Michigan, where he caught Harbaugh’s attention. Harbaugh hired him in 2018 as tight ends coach.
Moore was promoted to offensive line coach and co‑offensive coordinator in 2021, when the Wolverines bounced back from a 2‑4, pandemic‑shortened season and began a three‑year run of excellence that culminated in the school’s first national title in 26 years.
Sign‑Stealing Scandal and Texts
Moore previously deleted an entire 52‑message text thread on his personal phone with former staffer Connor Stalions, who led the team’s sign‑sealing operation. The texts were later recovered and shared with the NCAA.
Broader Context
Earlier in the 2023 season, Michigan State fired coach Mel Tucker for cause after he engaged in what he described as consensual phone sex with an activist and rape survivor. In 2012, Arkansas fired coach Bobby Petrino due to a sordid scandal that involved a motorcycle crash, an affair with a woman who worked for him and being untruthful to his bosses.
Key Takeaways
- Moore was jailed within 24 hours of being fired for an alleged staff relationship.
- The university cited evidence of the relationship and zero tolerance policy as reasons for the dismissal.
- The Wolverines will play Texas in the Citrus Bowl with interim coach Biff Poggi leading the team.
The situation underscores the seriousness of off‑field conduct for college coaches and the immediate repercussions that can follow allegations of inappropriate relationships.
