ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Former University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore was booked into the Washtenaw County Jail on Wednesday, just hours after the university announced he had been fired for what officials described as an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
According to jail records, Moore, 39, was taken into custody Wednesday evening. The records did not disclose why he was jailed or list any upcoming court appearances.
Earlier in the day, Pittsfield Township Police confirmed officers responded to a report of an alleged assault at a location just south of Michigan Stadium. While the department did not name the individual involved, officials said one person was taken into custody and is being held pending review of potential charges by prosecutors. Police emphasized the incident was not random and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
“Given the nature of the allegations, the need to maintain the integrity of the investigation, and its current status, we are prohibited from releasing additional details,” Pittsfield Township Police said in a statement.
University Fires Moore for Cause
Moore’s arrest came shortly after Michigan Athletics announced the coach had been terminated for cause. The university said an internal review uncovered evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Moore and an unnamed staff member.
“This conduct constitutes a clear violation of university policy, and UM maintains zero tolerance for such behavior,” athletic director Warde Manuel said.
Moore, who is married with three daughters, did not respond to requests for comment.
The firing ends a turbulent two-year tenure. Moore posted a 17–8 record, going 9–3 this season after an 8–5 debut. His five-year, $5.5 million annual contract will not require a buyout because the dismissal was for cause.
A Program in Transition — Again
Michigan, the winningest program in college football history, is now searching for its third head coach in four years. Moore took over in 2024 after the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship and the departure of Jim Harbaugh to the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.
The Wolverines, ranked No. 18, are scheduled to face No. 14 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31. Biff Poggi, who served as interim coach during Moore’s suspension earlier this season, will lead the team for the bowl game.
Moore was suspended for multiple games this year as part of both self-imposed and NCAA-issued penalties tied to a sign-stealing investigation. He previously deleted a 52-message text exchange with former staffer Connor Stalions, but investigators later recovered the messages.
A Once-Rising Star
Before becoming Harbaugh’s top assistant, Moore built a strong coaching résumé: playing at Butler County Community College and later Oklahoma, then beginning his coaching career at Louisville before stints at Central Michigan and Michigan. He rose through the Wolverines’ staff to offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator, helping lead Michigan’s resurgence after the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
His downfall mirrors other high-profile coaching scandals in college football, including Michigan State’s 2023 firing of Mel Tucker and Arkansas’ dismissal of Bobby Petrino in 2012.
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