ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore was arrested on Wednesday, a few hours after he was dismissed from his position for what the university described as an "inappropriate relationship with a staff member." According to records from the Washtenaw County Jail, the 39-year-old Moore was booked into custody as of Wednesday evening; however, details regarding the reasons for his detention or any scheduled court appearances were not disclosed.
The Pittsfield Township Police Department issued a statement in response to media inquiries. Although they did not name Moore, they confirmed that police were called to investigate a reported assault in Pittsfield Township, located a couple of miles south of Michigan Stadium. A person was taken into custody, and officials stated that the incident was not random, implying no ongoing threat to public safety. The individual remains in jail awaiting a review of charges by prosecutors.
Michigan's athletic director, Warde Manuel, confirmed that Moore was fired "for cause" following an investigation that uncovered evidence of his inappropriate relationship. This decision marked the end of Moore's up-and-down, two-year tenure as the head coach, which saw the Wolverines take a step back on the field following their 2023 national championship victory and subsequent NCAA sanctions. Manuel emphasized that the conduct exhibited by Moore constituted a "clear violation of university policy," asserting the university's zero-tolerance stance on such behavior.
While the announcement of Moore's termination did not provide specific details about the alleged relationship, it did indicate that he is married with three young daughters. Moore did not respond to attempts by The Associated Press for comment. His coaching record this year stands at 9-3, following an 8-5 record in his debut season.
Moore, who signed a five-year contract with a base annual salary of $5.5 million, will not receive a buyout for the remaining years of his contract due to being fired for cause. This situation puts Michigan in search of its third coach in four years, especially after a busy coaching carousel that included notable departures such as Lane Kiffin leaving playoff-bound Mississippi for LSU.
Moore was promoted to head coach after the Wolverines claimed the 2023 national title, succeeding Jim Harbaugh, who returned to the NFL as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. The 18th-ranked Wolverines, currently holding a 9-3 record and a 7-2 standing in the Big Ten, are scheduled to play No. 14 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on December 31. Biff Poggi, who filled in for Moore during his earlier suspension this season, will serve as the interim head coach.
This year, Moore received a two-game suspension as part of Michigan's self-imposed sanctions for NCAA violations related to a sign-stealing scandal. After the NCAA added a third game to his suspension, Moore would have missed the upcoming season opener against Western Michigan. Furthermore, Moore faced scrutiny for deleting a 52-message text thread with former staffer Connor Stalions, which was later recovered and shared with the NCAA.
Moore's rise in the coaching ranks has been notable; he previously served as Jim Harbaugh's top assistant and was seen as a burgeoning talent in the profession. Originating from Derby, Kansas, he began playing football in his junior year of high school and eventually played at Butler County Community College before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, where he was coached by Bob Stoops.
His coaching career started as a graduate assistant at Louisville, moving to Central Michigan, where his work caught Harbaugh’s attention. Harbaugh hired him in 2018, initially as tight ends coach, then promoting him to offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator, contributing to the team's remarkable turnaround and national title win after 26 years.
Moore’s tenure as coach was not without challenges, as he faced suspensions due to NCAA violations and was previously involved in a one-game suspension over recruiting infractions. Similar scandals in college football have led to other significant firings; for instance, Michigan State fired coach Mel Tucker for cause over a consensual misconduct case, and Arkansas dismissed coach Bobby Petrino after a scandal involving an extramarital affair.
