The meteoric rise and sudden, shocking collapse of Sherrone Moore is a story inextricably linked to the scandals that have engulfed the University of Michigan football program for the past three years.
In less than two years, Moore went from a trusted lieutenant navigating NCAA sanctions to a National Championship-winning acting coach, only to end up fired for cause and sitting in a Washtenaw County jail cell this week.
Here is the comprehensive breakdown of his career, the scandals that paved his path to power, and the timeline of his ultimate unraveling.
The Rise: Sherrone Moore’s Career at Michigan
Moore’s tenure at Michigan was defined by rapid ascension and critical success in high-pressure moments before his ultimate unraveling.
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January 15, 2018: Moore is hired by Jim Harbaugh as the Tight Ends Coach, joining the staff after a stint at Central Michigan.
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January 25, 2021: After three seasons, Moore is promoted to Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach. Under his leadership, the offensive line wins the Joe Moore Award (nation’s best O-line) in back-to-back seasons (2021, 2022), a first in college football history.
The Precursors: Harbaugh’s Transgressions & Moore’s Opportunity
To understand Moore’s ascent, one must first understand the vacuum left by former head coach Jim Harbaugh. Moore’s audition for the head coaching job was not a standard interview process; it was a trial by fire necessitated by two separate disciplinary actions against Harbaugh in 2023.
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“Burgergate” (The Recruiting Violations): The first door opened due to NCAA recruiting violations during the COVID-19 dead period. Harbaugh was accused of meeting with recruits and buying them cheeseburgers, then allegedly misleading investigators about it.
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The Consequence: To get ahead of NCAA penalties, Michigan self-imposed a three-game suspension for Harbaugh to start the 2023 season.
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Moore’s Role: During this period, the coaching duties were rotated. Moore himself served a one-game suspension in the season opener for his own involvement in the recruiting violations. He returned to serve as acting head coach for the third game against Bowling Green, securing a 31-6 win.
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The Sign-Stealing Scandal: Moore at the Center
The second, and far more explosive, scandal involved an elaborate illegal scouting scheme orchestrated by staffer Connor Stalions. This controversy defined the 2023 season and directly implicated Moore in the cover-up.
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The Scheme: Stalions purchased tickets to opponents’ games and sent associates to film their sidelines, deciphering play-calling signals in violation of NCAA rules.
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Harbaugh’s Suspension: In November 2023, the Big Ten Conference suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the regular season citing the program’s violation of the sportsmanship policy.
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Moore’s Acting Tenure: With Harbaugh barred from the sidelines, Moore took full control for the most critical stretch of the season:
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Nov. 11, 2023: Defeats No. 9 Penn State 24-15 (famous for his tearful postgame interview).
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Nov. 18, 2023: Defeats Maryland 31-24.
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Nov. 25, 2023: Defeats No. 2 Ohio State 30-24, securing the Big Ten East title. These victories, achieved under the pressure of a national scandal, cemented Moore as the “heir apparent.”
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Moore’s Misconduct (The Deleted Texts): While Moore was winning on the field, investigators found he had attempted to thwart the inquiry off it.
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The Act: On the day media reports broke regarding the Stalions scheme in October 2023, Moore deleted a thread of 52 text messages between himself and Stalions.
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The Recovery: Investigators later recovered the messages via device imaging.
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The Penalty: The NCAA deemed Moore a “repeat violator.” In August 2025, he was handed a show-cause penalty and Michigan self-imposed a two-game suspension for him at the start of the 2025 season.
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The Rise to Head Coach
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January 26, 2024: Following the National Championship win and Harbaugh’s departure to the Los Angeles Chargers to avoid further NCAA sanctions, Moore is officially named the 21st Head Coach of Michigan football. He signs a five-year contract starting at $5.5 million annually.
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2024 Season (Year 1): Moore guides the Wolverines to an 8-5 record. Despite a rocky start, the team finishes strong, upsetting No. 2 Ohio State 13-10.
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2025 Season (Year 2): Moore leads the team to a 9-3 record, keeping them in playoff contention until late in the year.
The Final Unraveling: Investigation, Firing, and Arrest
Here is what I know at the moment about Sherrone Moore’s firing and how this is far from over. If some of the details are true it’s going to be tough for him to get his money back… pic.twitter.com/lruM9yqrhG
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) December 10, 2025
While the NCAA scandals were professional hazards Moore survived, it was a personal conduct violation that ultimately ended his career.
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Mid-November 2025: The University of Michigan athletic department receives an anonymous tip alleging Moore is engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member (identified in reports as executive assistant Paige Shiver). A confidential internal investigation is launched.
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Early December 2025: Investigators reportedly find “credible evidence” corroborating the tip. Multiple rumors have come out about abortions, stalking, salary spikes, and even attempted murder, but none have been confirmed.
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Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 – Early Afternoon: University officials present their findings to Athletic Director Warde Manuel. The decision is made to terminate Moore’s contract immediately for cause. Moore catches wind that he could be in trouble, as his staff and team meet with the AD without him. At some point, Moore leaves the facilities and heads to an apartment complex.
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Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 – ~4:00 PM ET: Police are called to a residence in the 3000 block of Ann Arbor-Saline Road regarding a domestic dispute. Moore is detained by the Saline Police Department. Unconfirmed rumors say that Paige Shiver resides there.
While internet speculation has gone wild, the police have not stated what exactly happened at the residence.
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Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 – 4:43 PM ET: Warde Manuel releases an official statement announcing Moore has been fired for cause due to a violation of university policy regarding the inappropriate relationship. Biff Poggi is named interim head coach.
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Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 – 8:30 PM ET: Sherrone Moore is formally booked into the Washtenaw County Jail. Police confirm the incident is being investigated as an “alleged assault.”
The Legal Standpoint: What Happens Next?
Moore is now fighting a two-front legal war: one for his freedom and one for his fortune.
1. The Contract & Buyout (Civil Liability)
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The Stakes: Moore had roughly $14 million to $16.5 million remaining on his contract.
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The “For Cause” Clause: Michigan explicitly fired Moore “for cause.” In coaching contracts, this designation typically voids the university’s obligation to pay any buyout. The “inappropriate relationship” and policy violation are the university’s legal justification for zeroing out his payout.
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The Fight: Moore’s legal team will likely sue for wrongful termination, but the documented NCAA violations (text deleting) combined with the new policy violation and potential criminal charges create a nearly insurmountable defense for the university. It should be noted that Moore had a clause in his contract that prevented any of the previous sign-stealing scandals from being a cause for his firing.
2. The Assault Charge (Criminal Liability)
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The Charge: Moore was booked pending review of charges. In Michigan, Domestic Assault is the most likely initial charge.
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First Offense (Misdemeanor): Punishable by up to 93 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.
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Aggravated Domestic Assault: If the victim suffered a “serious or aggravated injury,” the charge escalates to a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
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The Future: If convicted, even of a misdemeanor, a violent crime on his record would likely render him unemployable in major college football or the NFL for the foreseeable future.
Flip the pages for photos of Paige Shiver:
