In a surprising development in the realm of college football, the University of Michigan has decided to part ways with head coach Sherrone Moore, marking a dramatic shift in this season’s coaching dynamics.

Michigan’s athletic director, Warde Manuel, issued a statement revealing that substantial evidence pointed to Moore being involved in an inappropriate relationship with a colleague. Manuel emphasized, “This conduct is a direct breach of University policy, and U-M holds a strict no-tolerance stance on such matters.”

According to an insider who spoke with The Athletic, the investigation began after an anonymous tip-off about the relationship. Although the initial probe didn’t reveal conclusive evidence, new information surfaced within the past day, resulting in Moore’s termination.

The staff member’s identity involved in the incident remains undisclosed, with no credible reports or public announcements providing further details.

The identity of the staffer has not been revealed – either publicly or in credible reports. 

Moore has been married since 2015 to his wife, Kelli. Together, they have three daughters.

Michigan has fired head football coach Sherrone Moore after ‘credible evidence’ was found that he had engaged in an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a staff member

Moore has been married to his wife, Kelli, since 2015. They share three daughters together.

Moore, who went 17-8 as the head coach of the now-No. 18 Wolverines, was set to coach the team in the Citrus Bowl against the No. 13 ranked Texas Longhorns. 

Associate head coach Biff Poggi has been elevated to interim head coach in the wake of the firing.

Moore was hired under former head coach Jim Harbaugh as the tight ends coach in 2018. He worked his way up to becoming the offensive coordinator by 2021.

In 2023, while Harbaugh was suspended in the midst of recruiting violations as well as a sign-stealing scandal, Moore served as interim head coach and led the Wolverines to victory in all four contests.

After Harbaugh left at the conclusion of Michigan’s 2023 national championship-winning season, Moore was elevated to being the full-time head coach.

The Wolverines went 8-5 under Moore in his first season – beating rivals Ohio State and winning the ReliaQuest Bowl.

This year, while they couldn’t beat Ohio State, Michigan improved to a 9-3 record.

Earlier in the season, Moore was suspended for two games after he was found to have deleted text messages sent to Connor Stallions – the former Michigan analyst at the center of the sign-stealing scandal.

Moore was officially hired as Michigan’s head football coach in the 2024 season

Moore took over from Jim Harbaugh after he left for the Los Angeles Chargers job. Moore served as interim coach for Harbaugh amid a pair of scandals in the 2023 season.

Earlier this season, Moore was suspended two games for his role in a sign-stealing scandal

The timing of this firing couldn’t be any worse for the Wolverines – not because of the bowl game, but because of the few available coaches they could hire to replace Moore.

2025 saw a much busier-than-normal coaching carousel – with top schools hiring and firing coaches left and right.

This season, LSU, Ole Miss, Florida, Penn State, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Michigan State and many more Division-I schools went out and hired themselves new coaches.

Now, Michigan is caught in a situation where the pool of suitable candidates who can match the ambition of this storied job is aggressively diluted. 

Barring the Wolverines going out and poaching a coach who signed an extension this season, or convincing an NFL coach to move to Ann Arbor, it’s more likely than not that Michigan is led in 2026 by someone who is not of the caliber they need.

Possible candidates include under-pressure Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and Washington head coach Jedd Fisch among others. 

It may also have a massive effect on the construction of their roster. In addition to the transfer portal opening on January 2, the NCAA allows recruits a 30-day transfer period in the wake of a coach’s firing.