Fired Michigan Coach Sherrone Moore Detained by Police Hours After Dismissal
Journey Tribune – The University of Michigan’s football program was rocked on Wednesday by the sudden firing of head coach Sherrone Moore, followed just hours later by his detention by local law enforcement. The rapid series of events plunged one of college football’s most high-profile programs into turmoil only weeks before its New Year’s bowl appearance.
Moore, 39, was dismissed for cause, with the university citing “credible evidence” that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member — a clear violation of institutional policy, according to athletic director Warde Manuel. The firing ended Moore’s long affiliation with Michigan, where he had served in various coaching roles since 2018 and had led the program for the past two seasons.
The situation intensified Wednesday evening when police in Saline, a small community just southwest of Ann Arbor, confirmed that Moore had been detained following an incident that required police intervention, according to multiple reports. Details of the incident have not yet been made public, though authorities indicated Moore was cooperative.
A Stunning Fall for a Rising Coaching Talent
The dismissal marks a dramatic fall for a coach once viewed as a central figure in Michigan’s efforts to stabilize its national championship program following the departure of Jim Harbaugh to the NFL in early 2024. Moore, one of the youngest head coaches in the Big Ten, compiled a 17–8 record across two seasons marked by both promising breakthroughs and destabilizing turbulence.
Michigan’s decision to terminate Moore reportedly emerged from an internal investigation sparked by an anonymous tip describing an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. A source familiar with the inquiry said initial efforts to substantiate the allegation came up empty, but new evidence surfaced within the last day that prompted immediate action.
Manuel addressed the situation bluntly in a written statement:
“Following a thorough 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 the university maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.”
Team Caught Off Guard
Inside the football building, the firing sent shockwaves through a staff already preparing for offseason evaluations, recruiting wrap-ups, and bowl practice. According to a team source, most staffers learned of Moore’s dismissal when Manuel delivered the news in a hastily called meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Moore had been in the facility earlier in the day but did not attend the team meeting.
The abrupt timing was especially jarring because Moore was actively assembling his 2026 staff. Only days earlier, he had hired veteran assistant Kerry Coombs to oversee special teams. On Monday, he spoke at length with reporters about the upcoming Citrus Bowl matchup against Texas and Michigan’s incoming recruiting class, offering no indication that his job was in jeopardy.
A Tenure Defined by Highs, Lows, and Controversy
Moore’s two-year stint at the helm began under uniquely challenging conditions. Taking over after Michigan’s 2023 national title, he inherited a program reshuffling its identity and expectations in the post-Harbaugh era. His first season stumbled out of the gate, with the Wolverines dropping three of their first seven games. But a season-ending upset victory over Ohio State in Columbus — combined with signing Bryce Underwood, the top-rated quarterback recruit in the 2025 class — restored optimism.
That optimism faded in 2025. Losses to Oklahoma and USC derailed Michigan’s playoff ambitions early, and a 27–9 defeat to Ohio State in late November marked the program’s worst performance in the rivalry in five years.
Moore’s tenure was also overshadowed by lingering fallout from the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal, a case that resulted in a major NCAA investigation and a historic fine expected to exceed $30 million. Moore himself served a two-game suspension this fall for deleting text messages related to Stalions — an act the NCAA deemed improper conduct, though not a violation that cost Michigan wins or postseason eligibility. He was also set to miss Michigan’s 2026 season opener due to sanctions from the same investigation.
What Comes Next
Associate head coach Biff Poggi has been appointed interim head coach and will lead Michigan into the Dec. 31 Citrus Bowl. The university is expected to begin a national search immediately for Moore’s long-term replacement, though Manuel declined to specify a timeline.
Although Moore’s five-year, $5.6 million-per-year contract included protections shielding him from termination connected to NCAA violations predating his promotion to head coach, it also clearly delineated grounds for firing for cause — including misconduct, policy violations, and actions damaging to the university’s reputation. With the investigation’s findings now confirmed, those provisions appear to have been activated.
As for the police matter, authorities in Saline said additional information will be released after their initial review concludes. For now, the episode caps a tumultuous and unexpected ending to a tenure that Michigan once hoped would carry its championship momentum into a new era.
