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Michigan fires Sherrone Moore for cause amid 'inappropriate relationship' with staff member
CBS Sports ^ | 12/10/2025 | Carter Bahns , John Talty & Matt Zenitz

Posted on 12/10/2025 5:28:08 PM PST by nickcarraway

The Wolverines will undergo their second coaching change in three years, releasing Moore after eight years with the organization, including two as head coach

Michigan fired coach Sherrone Moore for cause at the conclusion of his second season leading the Wolverines football program. Athletic director Warde Manuel said Wednesday the termination was the result of an inappropriate relationship between Moore and a staff member.

"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."

Moore was detained by police in Saline, Mich., three hours after his firing. Saline police turned Moore over to police in Pittsfield Township for investigation into potential charges, ESPN reported.

Associate head coach Biff Poggi has been appointed interim coach, effective immediately. Moore had a buyout of around $14 million, but because he was fired for cause, Michigan may be off the hook for nearly all of it.

After becoming aware of the allegations against Moore, prominent Michigan donors cooled on contributing to the program, sources told CBS Sports.

"This is a sad day to see it come to this," a Michigan football booster told CBS Sports. "I feel horrible for all the players, coaches and families are going to be disrupted. And I don't know what becomes of Sherrone."

In recent days as word had begun to spread across college football that Michigan was investigating Moore, Michigan staffers had grown worried about their future. Manuel indicated to team staffers that at least part of the Moore investigation, which had become far from a secret internally, had been going on since mid-November, sources said.

Michigan finished 8-5 in Moore's debut season in 2024 and improved to 9-3 this year with the Wolverines remaining in the College Football Playoff discussion until the final week of the regular season. The team's CFP hopes faded with a 27-9 home loss to rival Ohio State, ending a four-game winning streak for the Wolverines in the series.

Michigan is slated to play Texas in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 but a football game will be about the only normal thing on the docket for the remainder of the offseason, which will include a coaching search, a staff overhaul, a roster rest and, culturally, a break from the Jim Harbaugh era.

"As an AD, I go back to the personnel and the players," a Power Four athletics director told CBS Sports, when asked what the immediate aftermath for Michigan would look like. "They need to be heard and they need guidance. You go in and talk to them, inform them of the situation and what's next and reaffirm your commitment to doing what's best for them. You always have to do that."

Sherrone Moore firing a full-circle moment for Michigan

Moore ascended to the helm of the Michigan football program in 2024 after serving as offensive coordinator under former coach Jim Harbaugh. Scandals precipitated Moore's elevation to the head-coaching role, and another brought his tenure to an end.

He served as head coach in four games during the 2023 season while Harbaugh was suspended for recruiting violations and then the program's sign-stealing saga; the Wolverines went 4-0, though Moore was only credited with one victory on his resume. Moore won an early-season game against Bowling Green and guided the Wolverines to three consecutive triumphs to close the regular season, including a rivalry win over Ohio State to clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. From there, the Wolverines went on to win the national championship -- their first since 1997.

Sherrone Moore buyout: What's left on the Michigan coach's contract after he was fired 'for cause' Playing a key role in the national championship run set Moore up to secure the full-time job once Harbaugh departed for the NFL at the end of the campaign. Harbaugh's exit came late in the coaching carousel cycle, and promoting from within allowed Michigan to maintain as much continuity as possible while also rewarding Moore for his efforts as an assistant. Moore had been on the staff in Ann Arbor since 2018, working his way up from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator.

Moore served a two-game suspension of his own this year for his involvement in the sign-stealing scandal.

Michigan failed to reach College Football Playoff under Moore

On the heels of a national championship, Michigan took an expected step back under Moore. The Wolverines went just 8-5 in 2024, posting their worst record since 2017 while struggling mightily on offense after losing quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum and several others to the NFL. The Wolverines ranked just 113th in the FBS in scoring at 22.0 points per game with former walk-on Davis Warren taking the majority of the snaps at quarterback. An elite defense stacked with NFL talent kept the team afloat, though, and prevented the bottom from falling out after the coaching turnover.

Although Moore's first year underwhelmed, it closed on a high note with wins over eventual national champion Ohio State in a stunning upset and Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. A massive in-state recruiting victory -- the flip of No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood from LSU (at a rumored cost of $10 million) -- further brightened the Wolverines' outlook for 2025 and beyond.

That strong finish to 2024 and the addition of Moore brought added expectations for Michigan entering the 2025 season. An early loss at Oklahoma in which Underwood struggled mightily raised some doubts, and the Wolverines later fell to 4-2 with an ugly loss at USC. Five straight victories followed, and Michigan's CFP hopes were still alive entering the season finale against No. 1 Ohio State. The Wolverines started the game off with an early 6-0 lead but ultimately could not hold off the Buckeyes in a 27-9 loss -- a game that ended the Wolverines' national championship hopes and ultimately proved to be Moore's last as Michigan's coach.

What's next for Michigan? The timing of Moore's exit puts Michigan behind the curve in what has been a historically hectic coaching carousel cycle. Most of the top candidates across the sport have already accepted offers, but Michigan is one of the most high-profile jobs in the sport and should attract some big names.

"They've missed out on a bunch [of top coaches] at this point," a coaching agent told CBS Sports. "[But] they have to have an idea of who they can get at the very least if they made this move right now."

Manuel will need to move quickly in his coaching search with the 2026 transfer portal window opening Jan. 2. In order to prevent an exodus of key players and to attract talent into the program, it would behoove Michigan to have a staff in place ahead of the free agency period. Finding a coach who can retain Underwood, for one, will be of the utmost importance.

Michigan coaching candidates: Kalen DeBoer, Marcus Freeman among options after sudden Sherrone Moore firing Robby Kalland Michigan coaching candidates: Kalen DeBoer, Marcus Freeman among options after sudden Sherrone Moore firing Michigan was already planning on adding a QBs coach to work with Moore and the rest of the room, so there's a double bonus to be had should the school instead hire an offensive-minded head coach. Until then, as 247Sports' Allen Trieu writes, Michigan will have to "protect" itself from portal poachers.

As one of the biggest brands in college athletics, Michigan has the ability to swing for the fences. A home-run hire could re-establish the Wolverines as perennial title contenders almost instantly. Sitting head coaches at other Power Four programs figure to be in play for the Michigan job. Eyes will be on Alabama's Kalen DeBoer, who faces pressure from the Crimson Tide fanbase and has ties to the region as a longtime assistant coach in the Midwest.

Recently fired LSU coach Brian Kelly could also be an option for a program that has underwhelmed in the two years since its national championship.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Sports
KEYWORDS: biffpoggi; college; football; michigan; pittsfieldtownship; saline; sherrone; sports; thewolverines; uofmichigan; wardemanuel

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To: Bonemaker
What is inappropriate?

Rape is inappropriate.
41 posted on 12/10/2025 6:30:40 PM PST by af_vet_1981 ( The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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To: for-q-clinton
Last time I checked, getting a 19 year old pregnant was not illegal. He already has three daughters with his wife.



42 posted on 12/10/2025 6:31:11 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
After becoming aware of the allegations against Moore, prominent Michigan donors cooled on contributing to the program, sources told CBS Sports.

,= You're fired! Money talks and bs walks!

43 posted on 12/10/2025 6:34:28 PM PST by dennisw (There is no limit to human stupidity / )
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To: for-q-clinton

Maybe domestic violence. Could be anything.


44 posted on 12/10/2025 6:37:20 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: nickcarraway

The President of the Buffalo Bills was fired for the same thing 7 years ago.

He had helped the owners buy the team and was made President of Operations - basically all decisions went through him. Quite a lot of trust was given to him

He got canned when it was discovered he had affairs with multiple female employees.


45 posted on 12/10/2025 6:38:19 PM PST by PGR88
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To: Getready; nickcarraway
Some states have different levels for age of consent, depending on if the other person is of some kind of authority (including academic authority like a college instructor).

Back when my kids were younger I looked up the age of consent for Alabama. It seems like it was 16 for most situations, but if the other person was a teacher/college instructor, then the younger person has to be something like 19 or 20. So maybe this in Michigan is the same situation.

46 posted on 12/10/2025 6:38:50 PM PST by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: nickcarraway

Apparently Sherrone wanted to do a bit more than dance with his date.

Source: YouTube https://share.google/cCVje2VrlKKWaHNYJ


47 posted on 12/10/2025 6:42:14 PM PST by DAC21
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To: FamiliarFace

I just read, he was suicidal. And threatening to kill himself (and a staffer). So he’s on lockdown for mental issues.


48 posted on 12/10/2025 6:43:29 PM PST by for-q-clinton (ui)
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To: Bonemaker

“What is inappropriate?”

What’s inappropriate is that women have migrated this jive word, from the psychiatrist’s couch into everyday language. They have positioned themselves as the arbiters of what is wrong, by claiming it is inappropriate.


49 posted on 12/10/2025 6:44:08 PM PST by dennisw (There is no limit to human stupidity / )
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To: PGR88

The coach of the Celtics was fired a few years ago for having an affair. I thought the Clinton years were supposed have taught us that to “mature” and not be against adultery?


50 posted on 12/10/2025 6:46:18 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: for-q-clinton

Just saw this:

BushwoodCountry-Club

2h ago
A text I got from my friend 30min ago.

Another rumor.

Friend who’s a cop in Ann Arbor:

“Just reported to us that Sherrone went crazy today, told his wife he wanted to commit suicide, went to the girl assistants house and said he wanted to kill her. She called the cops, he fled the scene, Sherrone is now arrested.”


51 posted on 12/10/2025 6:52:37 PM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: alstewartfan

Never gonna stop, give it up, such a dirty mind
I always get it up for the touch of the younger kind


52 posted on 12/10/2025 7:03:34 PM PST by BipolarBob (These violent delights have violent ends.)
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To: nickcarraway

yes


53 posted on 12/10/2025 7:30:38 PM PST by Az Joe (25 YEARS ON FREE REPUBLIC! 11/01/2025, 700+ POSTS, 15,500+ REPLIES - "MADE IT MA, TOP OF THE WORLD!")
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To: FamiliarFace

They held O State to 10 points. They average 34 a game.

NEXT!


54 posted on 12/10/2025 7:33:16 PM PST by Az Joe (25 YEARS ON FREE REPUBLIC! 11/01/2025, 700+ POSTS, 15,500+ REPLIES - "MADE IT MA, TOP OF THE WORLD!")
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To: BipolarBob

Good girls don’t
Good girls don’t

Good girls don’t....but I do.


55 posted on 12/10/2025 7:34:39 PM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: for-q-clinton

I read same.


56 posted on 12/10/2025 7:40:39 PM PST by RckyRaCoCo (there are demons out there, and they look like people)
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To: dfwgator

Yep I’m hearing similar as well.

He really screwed up.

1/2 his money to the wife.
He has 3 kids with her: big time child support
He will have one kid with the staffer so more child support

And he probably can’t find a job.


57 posted on 12/10/2025 7:50:23 PM PST by for-q-clinton (ui)
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To: Az Joe

Yep! Next!


58 posted on 12/10/2025 8:20:02 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Az Joe

To be fair, the Hoosiers average is 41.9 points, and the Buckeyes held them to 13. It was a good game.


59 posted on 12/10/2025 8:23:53 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

you’re still wrong though


60 posted on 12/10/2025 8:25:16 PM PST by Az Joe (25 YEARS ON FREE REPUBLIC! 11/01/2025, 700+ POSTS, 15,500+ REPLIES - "MADE IT MA, TOP OF THE WORLD!")
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