Michigan Fires Head Coach Sherrone Moore for Cause; Police Confirm Detention Amid Ongoing Investigation
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan football head coach Sherrone Moore experienced a tumultuous three weeks that included being castigated for losing to its hated archrival, being fired from his job, and then being detained by local police.
Michigan coach fired
Moore, 39, was terminated from the prestigious football program for cause on Wednesday, Dec. 10. A university investigation concluded he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member at the school which is 45 miles west of Detroit.
The firing marks a sudden and dramatic turn for a coach once seen as the long-term successor to Jim Harbaugh and a stabilizing force for the Wolverines after a turbulent stretch of NCAA scrutiny.
Michigan thrashed by Ohio State in iconic rivalry game
This also comes just two weeks after the Wolverines were resoundingly defeated by their longtime arch-nemesis, the Ohio State Buckeyes, 27-9, at home, in front of a crowd of 108,000 people. Moore was tormented on social media by the rabid fan base for his conservative and “cowardly” playcalling.
Athletic director Warde Manuel announced the decision in a written statement Wednesday afternoon, citing “credible evidence” uncovered during the internal inquiry.
The married Moore allegedly engaged in inappropriate relationship
“Following a university investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member,” Manuel said, according to the Detroit Free Press. “This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.”
Assistant coach Biff Pogg, who previously served in an interim role during two games this season, will again take over as interim head coach. Pogg stepped in for matchups against Central Michigan and Nebraska earlier in the year while Moore served a two-game suspension tied to an ongoing NCAA investigation into Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal.
The timing of the termination is bad for U-M
Moore, 39, concludes his Michigan tenure with an 18–8 record across two seasons. He led the Wolverines to a 9–3 finish in 2025 and a No. 18 ranking in the final College Football Playoff poll heading into postseason play. The timing of his dismissal leaves Michigan in a precarious position: the national coaching carousel has largely settled, Power Four vacancies are filled, and several high-profile coaches recently signed contract extensions, potentially limiting the Wolverines’ options for a permanent replacement.
The university’s decision comes against the backdrop of lingering fallout from the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal, which dominated Michigan headlines for more than a year. Moore was accused of deleting text messages exchanged with Stalions, the former Michigan analyst accused of orchestrating the illicit scouting operation. That allegation contributed to a three-game suspension for Moore, two games in 2025 and another scheduled for 2026, in addition to a separate one-game, self-imposed suspension he served in 2023 for unrelated recruiting violations.
Moore was once a rising star in coaching ranks
Moore’s rise through the Michigan ranks had been swift. After joining the program in 2018 as the tight ends coach, he was elevated to co-offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, he became the Wolverines’ primary offensive coordinator and play-caller, helping guide the team to an undefeated season and a national championship. His success earned him the head coaching role in 2024 after Harbaugh left the Wolverines to take helm of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Before Michigan, Moore began his coaching career at Louisville following a playing career as a backup offensive lineman at Oklahoma. He later held positions at Central Michigan prior to his move to Ann Arbor.
Moore tracked down and detained by police
Compounding Wednesday’s developments, Moore was detained by police later in the evening. According to ESPN’s Dan Wetzel, officers in Saline, Mich., about 10 miles south of the university, “assisted in locating and detaining Moore,” before transferring him to Pittsfield Charter Township authorities as part of an investigation into potential charges.
Saline Police Chief Marlene A. Radzik declined to comment, directing inquiries to Pittsfield Township police. Officials there did not immediately return messages seeking clarification.
It remains unclear whether Moore’s detention is connected to the university’s findings or emanates from a separate matter.
Neither the police nor U-M officials have provided additional details.