Michigan Coach Sherrone Moore - Fired for 'Inappropriate Relationship' - Jailed in Assault Probe

Ann Arbor, Michigan – December 11, 2025  Head coach Sherrone Moore was abruptly fired Wednesday afternoon for engaging in an "inappropriate relationship" with a staff member, only to be detained by police hours later on suspicion of assault. Sources close to the program describe Moore, 39, as having acted "strange" and increasingly erratic in the days leading up to his dismissal, including threats of self-harm and uncharacteristic outbursts that alarmed colleagues.

The once-rising star of college football – Michigan's first Black head coach and a key architect of the Wolverines' 2024 national championship under Jim Harbaugh – now finds himself in Washtenaw County Jail, where he was placed in mental health protective custody overnight. Court records indicate Moore's arraignment is scheduled for Friday morning, as Pittsfield Township police continue investigating an alleged assault reported just miles from Michigan Stadium.

University athletic director Warde Manuel announced the termination in a terse statement late Wednesday, citing "credible evidence" uncovered during an internal probe. "U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately," Manuel said. "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 U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior."

The relationship, described by insiders as involving a non-consensual dynamic with a female staffer in the athletic department, reportedly included favoritism such as unjust promotions and salary increases, according to reports from ESPN and local outlets. Moore, who is married to his college sweetheart since 2015 and father to three young daughters, allegedly pressured the woman into an abortion earlier this year, sources told Black Sports Online in a detailed timeline of the scandal.

The university's zero-tolerance stance echoes a similar 2023 case at Michigan State, where coach Mel Tucker was ousted for misconduct involving a staffer.

Moore's firing spares Michigan a massive financial hit: His five-year, $5.5 million annual contract through 2029 carried a $13.89 million buyout, but the "for cause" clause voids it entirely.

The timing couldn't be worse for a program still reeling from the 2023 sign-stealing scandal that led to Harbaugh's departure and NCAA sanctions. Moore, who served a one-game suspension this season tied to those violations, posted a 17-8 record over two years, including a 9-3 mark in 2025 – respectable, but a far cry from the championship glory he helped deliver as offensive coordinator.

Eyewitness accounts and leaks paint a picture of a coach unraveling under pressure. In the hours after his termination meeting at Schembechler Hall, Moore reportedly drove erratically to a Saline-area home linked to the staffer, where he allegedly broke in, brandished a knife, and threatened both her and himself.

Saline police assisted Pittsfield Township officers in detaining him around 7 p.m. Wednesday, transferring him to county jail by evening.

"He wasn't himself – withdrawn, snapping at everyone, even canceling meetings last-minute," one anonymous assistant coach told The Detroit News, describing Moore's "strange" demeanor in the week prior. "It was like he knew something was coming, but he just... spiraled."

The scandal has ignited a firestorm on social media, with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy praising Michigan's swift action: "On a serious note, there have been a lot of schools over the years who have looked the other way with scandals. I’d just like to say I’m proud that Michigan refused to do the same."

17GEN4