Michigan Coach Moore Fired, Jailed After Staff Scandal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore was jailed just hours after being fired for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Police later confirmed an arrest tied to an assault investigation in Pittsfield Township. Moore’s abrupt exit ends a controversial tenure marked by NCAA sanctions and off-field issues.
Sherrone Moore Firing and Arrest: Quick Looks
- Moore fired by Michigan for inappropriate staff relationship
- Jailed shortly after; police confirm arrest in assault case
- Incident occurred near campus in Pittsfield Township
- No public safety threat; charges pending review
- Moore’s two-year head coaching run ends abruptly
- Michigan avoids contract buyout due to firing for cause
- Interim coach named ahead of Citrus Bowl vs. Texas
- Moore previously suspended for role in sign-stealing scandal
- NCAA recovered deleted texts with implicated staffer
- Program seeks third head coach in four years
Michigan Coach Moore Fired, Jailed After Staff Scandal
Deep Look
The University of Michigan football program is once again facing turmoil after firing head coach Sherrone Moore for cause on Wednesday, just hours before he was taken into custody and booked into county jail, according to public records.
The firing was linked to what the university described as an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member”, a violation of university policy that led to Moore’s immediate termination. He remains jailed as of Thursday morning, though Washtenaw County Jail has not released details regarding the charges, bail, or upcoming court appearances.
The Pittsfield Township Police Department, in a statement released Wednesday evening, confirmed that officers responded to an alleged assault incident near Ann Arbor, just miles from Michigan Stadium. While the department did not name Moore directly, it confirmed an arrest had been made and that the suspect was in custody awaiting a prosecutorial decision.
Officials stressed that the incident was not random, posed no ongoing public threat, and involved a domestic context, though specifics remain sealed pending further investigation.
Moore’s Tenure Ends in Scandal
Moore’s departure marks a dramatic fall for a coach once hailed as the rising star of the Wolverines’ program. Promoted just last year after Jim Harbaugh’s departure to the NFL, Moore led the team through a 9-3 season following an 8-5 debut and was under a five-year contract worth $5.5 million annually.
Due to the nature of his firing, Michigan will not be required to pay a buyout, allowing the university to exit the agreement without financial penalty.
“This conduct constitutes a clear violation of university policy, and UM maintains zero tolerance for such behavior,” said Athletic Director Warde Manuel in an official statement.
Moore, who is married and has three children, did not respond to requests for comment. He has previously served in various coaching roles at Michigan, including offensive line coach and offensive coordinator, before taking over the top job.
Replacements and Future Outlook
With Moore out, Biff Poggi, a former assistant who temporarily stepped in earlier this season during Moore’s suspension, has been named interim head coach. Poggi will lead the No. 18-ranked Wolverines against No. 14 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on December 31.
The university now faces the task of finding its third head coach in four years, a striking reversal for a program that recently celebrated its first national title in over two decades.
Pattern of Controversy
Moore’s coaching career had already been mired in controversy. Earlier in the 2025 season, he served a two-game suspension imposed by the university in connection with NCAA violations tied to a sign-stealing scandal. The NCAA later extended that suspension by a third game, which would have kept him off the sideline for the 2026 season opener.
Investigators discovered that Moore had deleted a 52-message text exchange with former staffer Connor Stalions, the figure at the center of the sign-stealing operation. Though Moore initially denied wrongdoing, the messages were forensically recovered and submitted to NCAA investigators.
Moore also served a one-game suspension in 2023 related to recruiting violations, marking a consistent string of infractions during his brief head coaching stint.
A Promising Career Cut Short
Originally from Derby, Kansas, Moore came into football relatively late, starting in high school before playing at Butler County Community College and then at the University of Oklahoma under legendary coach Bob Stoops.
He began his coaching career at Louisville and later joined Central Michigan, where his work caught the attention of Jim Harbaugh. In 2018, Harbaugh brought Moore to Michigan as a tight ends coach. By 2021, Moore had been promoted to offensive coordinator and helped lead Michigan’s resurgence from a 2-4 pandemic season to national prominence.
Moore filled in for Harbaugh as interim head coach for four games during the 2023 championship season and was seen as the natural successor when Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL.
His rise through the coaching ranks was once viewed as one of college football’s most promising success stories. Now, it’s a cautionary tale about accountability, both on and off the field.
Other Coaching Scandals Add Context
Moore’s firing echoes similar high-profile coaching scandals in recent years. In 2023, Michigan State fired Mel Tucker for cause over a misconduct case involving an activist. In 2012, Arkansas dismissed Bobby Petrino after a motorcycle crash led to revelations of an extramarital affair and dishonesty with school officials.
As Moore’s legal situation unfolds, Michigan’s football program — the winningest in college history — finds itself once again in crisis mode.
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