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- NCAA. Sherrone Moore investigation exposes deeper ties with a Michigan assistant following a sudden and unexplained rise in pay
Michigan's coaching search has hit a significant snag following the abrupt dismissal of Sherrone Moore. The former Wolverines head coach was fired after two seasons due to an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staff member identified as Paige Shiver. Michigan's Athletic Director, Warde Manuel, issued a statement confirming the findings, saying, "credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member." The situation has become even more atypical as Shiver had received a substantial raise, and Moore was detained by Detroit police hours after his firing, compounding the complexity of the ongoing investigation.
Alabama Coach Rejects Michigan Amid Playoff Hunt
Moore's performance as head coach, while not abysmal (a combined 17-8 record), had momentum after he took over the team that won the National Championship in 2023. His tenure included a win in last year's ReliaQuest Bowl against Kalen DeBoer's Alabama team, who, like Moore, was in his first season as head coach there.
Following Moore's firing, media speculation immediately pointed to DeBoer as his likely successor at Michigan, even with Alabama currently in the playoffs and preparing to face Oklahoma on December 19th. However, DeBoer has directly addressed these rumors.
He had previously stated that he was very happy at Alabama when questioned about a potential link to the Penn State job, and his response to the Michigan speculation has been the same. DeBoer is currently focused on the playoffs and improving his team after the 28-7 thrashing they received from Georgia in the SEC Championship game. His firm rejection leaves Michigan's high-profile job open and complicates an already turbulent situation.
New Coach Takes Over for Citrus Bowl
Given the immense fame and power of the Michigan Wolverines program, it is unlikely they will take long to find a quality replacement head coach. However, for the immediate future, Associate Head Coach Biff Poggi will serve as Michigan's interim head coach for the Citrus Bowl matchup against Texas on December 31st. It remains to be seen if Poggi could potentially take the job permanently, but for now, he provides much-needed stability as the university deals with the fallout from the Moore investigation and a critical coaching search.