The University of Michigan fired head football coach Sherrone Moore on December 10, following an investigation that found he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Athletic director Warde Manuel stated that the conduct violated university policy, emphasizing zero tolerance. Moore, who is 39, married, and a father of three daughters, was terminated without human resources or campus police present at the time, according to sources.
Initially, Manuel had questioned Moore and the staffer about their relationship during the season, but both denied it. Manuel reviewed hundreds of text messages and emails from their school-issued devices, finding nothing inappropriate. However, an anonymous tip prompted the university to hire an outside law firm, Jenner & Block, to conduct an external investigation. This firm, which had previously worked with the school, began its inquiry when the staffer did not report to work on a Monday. The staffer's attorney met with the firm, and she provided evidence of the relationship on a Wednesday, leading to Moore's immediate firing.
Following his dismissal, Moore was charged with felony home invasion and misdemeanor charges of stalking and breaking and entering after allegedly breaking into the staffer's apartment, threatening to harm himself with kitchen scissors and butter knives. He pleaded not guilty, with a probable cause hearing set for January 22, 2026. Moore eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of malicious use of a telecommunications device and trespassing, receiving 18 months of probation and a $1,000 fine in April, with the felony and other charges dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
The widespread controversy surrounding Moore's firing and the handling of the situation has led to a broader investigation into the culture and practices of the entire athletic department. The new probe, commissioned by the University of Michigan Board of Regents, will be handled by Jenner & Block and will examine how numerous scandals have occurred and been addressed, including the awareness of Moore's conduct during his two-year tenure. This expanded investigation includes a focus on Athletic Director Warde Manuel, whose job security is now in question. If dismissed without cause, the university would owe Manuel, 57, approximately $6.75 million, based on his five-year contract signed in December 2024.
The staffer, identified as 32-year-old Shiver, later claimed she experienced "years of manipulation, harassment and exploitation" from Moore and that the university failed to protect her. Her lawyers suggested that she might not be the only person to have experienced such behavior from Moore, fueling calls for a deeper institutional review. Questions have also arisen regarding the timing of the university's investigation and how a long-term relationship within the department could have gone unnoticed by so many for so long.
