Former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore, fired Dec. 10 amid an “inappropriate relationship” with his executive assistant Paige Shiver, might seek to defend the affair by claiming the woman initiated it and that its open secret status within the athletic department negated any power imbalance concerns, legal and policy experts say.
But the university’s strict guidelines on supervisor-subordinate relationships likely undermine such arguments, particularly given Moore’s failure to report the liaison and allegations of favoritism tied to the staffer’s salary increase.
Paige Shiver, Moore’s executive assistant, filed a formal complaint Dec. 10 detailing a two-year intimate relationship with the married coach, which she said ended prior to her report. The complaint triggered an internal probe, leading to Moore’s immediate dismissal for violating university policy. Shiver alleged post-breakup harassment, including repeated calls and texts, culminating in Moore’s arrest later that day on charges of felony home invasion and misdemeanor stalking.
Michigan’s Standard Practice Guide 201.97, enacted in 2021, explicitly prohibits supervisors from initiating or attempting to initiate intimate relationships with subordinates, citing risks of perceived sexual harassment, abuse of power, coercion and favoritism. Supervisors must disclose any such relationship immediately to a higher authority, who then implements a management plan to ensure workplace equity. The policy does not exempt relationships initiated by the subordinate; instead, it places the onus on the supervisor to refrain from engagement and report promptly.
“If the subordinate initiated, that might mitigate perceptions of coercion, but it doesn’t absolve the supervisor’s duty to disclose and avoid conflicts,” said employment law attorney Sarah Prescott, who specializes in higher education cases but is not involved in this matter. Moore has not publicly commented on the specifics of initiation, and police reports do not clarify who started the affair. His representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Moore also failed to report the relationship to his supervisor, athletic director Warde Manuel, despite the policy’s mandate. Some observers suggest the affair was widely known in the department, potentially arguing it posed no hidden power issues since it wasn’t concealed. Rumors circulated via an anonymous tip in mid-November, prompting the initial investigation. However, experts note that informal awareness does not substitute for formal disclosure, which is required to address potential biases formally.
Complicating matters, unverified reports claim Shiver received a 55% salary increase during the relationship, rising from an entry-level role to executive assistant with a pay bump that some tie to favoritism. The policy explicitly warns against such benefits, viewing them as evidence of power imbalance. While the raise benefited Shiver, it could be seen as undermining workplace fairness for others, Prescott said. University officials have not confirmed the raise’s details or any connection to the affair.
Shiver retained her position, with Michigan explaining that the policy holds supervisors accountable for violations, not subordinates. “Both made a non-criminal decision, but rules target the power holder,” one online commenter noted.
Moore, 39, has not issued a formal defense statement on the relationship’s appropriateness, focusing instead on his arrest, which he denies involved threats. He faces court proceedings in January 2026.
The scandal caps a tumultuous 9-3 season for Michigan, which missed the College Football Playoff. The university continues its coaching search.
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