U-M fires Moore for inappropriate relationship

Michigan fired coach Sherrone Moore for cause Wednesday after a university investigation that found "credible evidence" he was 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," athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement Wednesday.

Biff Poggi was named interim coach. Michigan is slated to play Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.

The news ends Moore's Michigan coaching career at 17-8, with his final game a 27-9 loss to Ohio State to conclude a 9-3 season. The 39-year-old had gone through two years of his five-year contract as the Wolverines' head coach, and the school's firing for cause means it isn't planning to pay the nearly $12.3 million it would have owed him on his deal.

Moore was promoted to Michigan's head coach in the wake of Jim Harbaugh's departure for the NFL after Michigan's 2023 national title.

Moore endured some off-field controversies before his firing, including a suspension in Week 3 and Week 4 of this season tied to the Connor Stalions illegal advanced scouting scheme.

Moore was set to serve an additional one-game suspension for the start of the 2026 season as well. He was also suspended for the season opener in 2023 as part of self-imposed penalties for breaking recruiting rules.

Moore was a successful offensive line coach and offensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach. He was a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2023, when he was the playcaller on Michigan's national title team.

The firing puts Michigan in a difficult position of finding a coach in the wake of what's been considered the most volatile coaching carousel in recent college football history. There's already been a flurry of hires and extensions, which will complicate Michigan's search.