“Inappropriate Relationship” Prompts Firing Of High-Profile College Football Coach

University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore has been fired, “effective immediately,” for allegedly engaging in an “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member.

“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement, according to Detroit Free Press.

“Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior,” the statement continued.

ESPN Sources: Michigan has fired head coach Sherrone Moore, per me and @PeteThamel and @DanWetzel. pic.twitter.com/qBo9tiviud

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 10, 2025

Detroit Free Press has more:

At this time, there are no public details about the inappropriate relationship Moore was involved in that Michigan fired him for. According to his University of Michigan profile, Moore married his wife, Kelli, in 2015. The couple has three daughters.

Biff Poggi has been appointed head football coach in an interim capacity, effective immediately. Poggi served as the interim coach for the Wolverines this season when Moore served a university-imposed suspension for games against Central Michigan and Nebraska for his role in the Connor Stalions sign-stealing saga.

Moore was also suspended for one game during the 2023 season as part of a self-imposed penalty for recruiting violation and was set to be suspended for the first game of the 2026 season as a continuation of his punishment for the Stalions saga.

Per Moore’s contact, Michigan has the right to fire him if “Conduct by the Head Coach which offends against public decency or morality, as shall be determined by standards prevailing in the community or which results in, or in the reasonable determination of the University could result in, material injury to the reputation, interests or obligations of the University or the Program.”

Moore went 17-8 during his two seasons as head coach of the Wolverines in 2024 and 2025 after taking over for Jim Harbaugh the year following U-M’s national championship. Moore has been on staff since 2018 going from tight ends coach to offensive line coach and then offensive coordinator before Manuel named him head coach in January 2024.

Michigan finished the 2025 season with a 9-3 record and has an upcoming bowl game against the Texas Longhorns.

The firing could potentially spark calamity for the Michigan football program moving forward.

Biff Poggi has been named Michigan’s interim head coach after Sherrone Moore was fired https://t.co/AWmS5vXFze

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 10, 2025

ESPN shared:

Michigan enters the coaching market at a precarious time, as all major openings have been filled and, perhaps more important, a number of potential candidates have re-signed with their existing schools. Still, Michigan can offer a lot — an iconic American sports brand with deep pockets and a recent run of regional and national success — and should garner good interest for the job. The school clearly needs a replacement with no off-field character concerns.

Beyond the coaching search, though, Moore’s firing undoubtedly rocks the program weeks before the transfer portal opens.