The fired Michigan football coach pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors today as a felony home invasion charge and two other counts were dropped in a last-minute agreement.
Former University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore walked into Washtenaw County’s 14A District Court today morning expecting an evidence hearing. He walked out with a plea deal. The surprise agreement upended what had been shaping up as a significant legal proceeding, and it dramatically reduced the criminal exposure Moore has been facing since his firing in December.
Moore pleaded no contest to two newly filed misdemeanor charges: malicious use of a telecommunications device in the context of a domestic relationship, and trespassing. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the three original charges against him, including a third-degree felony home invasion count that carried a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The two misdemeanor stalking and breaking and entering charges were also dismissed.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 14 before Judge J. Cedric Simpson in Washtenaw County. The malicious use charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The trespassing charge carries up to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine. Attorneys not connected to the case have said they do not expect Moore to serve any prison time, given he has no prior criminal record.
What led to this moment
Moore, 40, was fired by the University of Michigan in December after school leadership determined he had been involved in a longstanding inappropriate relationship with his executive assistant and had lied about it when confronted. That same day, he drove to the woman’s apartment. She told police he entered without permission, picked up two butter knives and backed her into a corner. She told investigators she did not believe he intended to harm her physically, but that she was terrified. Moore was arrested shortly after leaving the apartment and spent two nights in jail following a mental health evaluation.
The original charges were serious. Prosecutors had accused Moore of felony home invasion, misdemeanor stalking tied to a domestic relationship and misdemeanor breaking and entering. By today, all three were gone.
How the deal came together
Prosecutors and defense attorneys met privately with Judge Simpson for more than two hours before the hearing began. When they emerged, the terms of the agreement were presented to the court. The lead prosecutor told the court that after reviewing additional evidence, the office did not believe it could prove domestic violence occurred, either historically or on the day in question. What the evidence did support, prosecutors said, was criminal behavior within the context of an intimate relationship, which formed the basis for the malicious use charge.
Moore’s attorney framed the outcome as a vindication of the position the defense had held since the beginning, arguing that the felony and stalking charges had never been supported by the facts and that omissions in the original detective’s affidavit had skewed the initial investigation. Simpson denied a defense request to remove Moore’s GPS tether, at least until a probation interview is completed.
Moore stood with his attorney and his wife, Kelli, after the hearing. He did not speak to reporters. Kelli Moore had been present in the courtroom throughout the proceedings, sitting directly behind her husband.
What is still unresolved
The plea deal closes the most urgent chapter of Moore’s legal situation, but it does not end the scrutiny surrounding him. The University of Michigan has an ongoing internal investigation into Moore and the broader culture of the athletic department, led by the law firm Jenner & Block. Invoices through early 2026 showed the university had already paid the firm roughly $2 million, and that figure is expected to grow. Moore’s former executive assistant no longer works at the university.
Separately, a different woman has alleged that a former Michigan assistant coach who worked under Moore sexually assaulted her and that Moore failed to report what she told him through the proper channels. Ann Arbor police have confirmed they are investigating. Moore’s attorney has denied those allegations on his behalf.
Sherrone coached Michigan for two seasons, going 16-8 before his dismissal. He had served as offensive coordinator during the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship run under Jim Harbaugh.
SOURCE: ESPN