On Wednesday evening, Michigan abruptly announced that head coach Sherrone Moore had been fired for cause following a university investigation that revealed “credible evidence” that Moore “engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.” Soon after his firing was announced, Moore was detained by local police for an alleged assault.
Here’s everything we know about the situation so far.
Athletic director Warde Manuel announced Moore had been fired for cause in the late afternoon Wednesday for having an affair with a staffer. The university did not name her, though a source familiar with the matter confirmed to Front Office Sports the staffer in question was listed as the executive assistant to the head coach.
“Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” Manuel said in a statement. “Following a university investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and UM maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.”
It’s rare for a school to get specific when firing a coach.
The investigation into Moore’s conduct began in November and was prompted by an anonymous tip, the source said. It had not progressed beyond that tip until the school received more information—which the source described as persons involved beginning to tell the truth—in the days leading up to Moore’s firing on Wednesday. At no point did the university investigation find that any of the activity was non-consensual, the source said.
Because Moore was fired for cause, the university will not owe him a buyout. His interim replacement is Biff Poggi, the school announced.
Around the same time of Michigan’s announcement, Pittsfield Township police responded at 4:10 p.m. local time to a dispatch of an “alleged assault” in Saline, Mich., and a “suspect was taken into custody,” the police department said in a statement. The source said reports that Moore had gone to the staffer’s house and threatened self-harm were credible.
Moore was booked at Washtenaw County Jail, where he is still being held. He is expected to be arraigned on Friday, police told The Athletic.
Michigan’s next steps will be stabilizing the football program—including finding a new head coach—as well as ensuring the welfare of Moore’s family as well as the staffer, the source said. As for rumors that the university held off until after National Signing Day to ensure recruits didn’t bolt, the source said that was untrue, and that the university acted on the new, credible information as soon as it came to light.
Players will have a short window during which they can enter their names into the transfer portal, per NCAA rules regarding player movement after a head coaching change. The NCAA previously allowed players 30 days to transfer after a head coaching change is announced. Due to new rules implemented this fall, however, players will have a 15-day window beginning five days after a new coach is announced. (The football transfer portal window in general will run from Jan. 2–16.) All eyes are on quarterback Bryce Underwood.
In the meantime, the Wolverines—who completed a 9–3 season and earned a No. 18 ranking—are preparing to face off against No. 13 Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
It’s unclear whether Moore’s firing will cause another leadership shakeup, specifically with regards to athletic director Warde Manuel. There are no imminent plans to consider firing Manuel, the source said, though university officials will continue to discuss the situation. Michigan currently has an interim president; the next president, who has not yet been chosen, will likely be the one to decide Manuel’s ultimate fate with the university.
