FACT CHECK: Michigan Fired Sherrone Moore for an ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ – Here’s What Is Confirmed

Michigan has fired head football coach Sherrone Moore for cause after an internal investigation found he engaged in an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member.” The university announced the decision on December 10, 2025, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, citing a violation of school policy.

This fact check explains what is confirmed by official statements and major outlets, what remains unclear, and how the decision affects Michigan football going into the Citrus Bowl and a new coaching search.

Confirmed facts about Michigan firing Sherrone Moore

Michigan’s athletic director Warde Manuel said in a written statement that Moore was “terminated, with cause, effective immediately” following a university investigation. The school said the investigation produced “credible evidence” that Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and called the conduct a clear violation of university policy.

The university has not publicly named the staff member or described the nature, timing, or duration of the relationship. Officials have also not said which specific policies were violated, beyond characterizing the conduct as inconsistent with Michigan’s standards and zero tolerance language around such behavior.

Moore, 39, is married and has three young daughters, a detail confirmed in national reporting. As of the latest coverage, Moore has not issued a detailed public statement responding to the firing, and he did not answer requests for comment from the Associated Press and other outlets.

On the field, Moore’s second season in charge ended with a 9–3 record in 2025 after an 8–5 debut as full-time head coach in 2024. Michigan finished 9–3 overall and 7–2 in Big Ten play this year and is ranked No. 18 in major polls. The Wolverines are scheduled to face No. 14 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on December 31, 2025, in Orlando.

Michigan has named Biff Poggi as interim head coach. Poggi, a longtime associate of Jim Harbaugh and a previous staff member at Michigan and at high school powers Gilman and St. Frances Academy, already stepped in earlier this season when Moore was suspended. He will now lead the Wolverines through bowl preparation while the university begins a full coaching search.

Moore’s contract, signed in 2024, was a multi-year deal with a base salary reported at $5.5 million per year and a significant buyout if he were dismissed without cause. Because the school has formally labeled this termination “for cause,” detailed coverage of his contract indicates Michigan is likely relieved of most or all of the standard buyout obligation, though the exact financial outcome may ultimately depend on contract language and any future legal dispute.

What is confirmed about Sherrone Moore being detained by police

Hours after Michigan fired Moore, multiple outlets reported that he was detained by police in Michigan. According to an official statement cited by national reporters, the Saline Police Department assisted in locating and detaining Moore on December 10, 2025.

The statement says Moore was then turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department “for investigation into potential charges.” At the time of writing, authorities have not announced what specific potential charges are being examined or whether any formal criminal charges will be filed.

It is important to note that, as of the latest verified reports, law enforcement has not publicly connected the potential criminal investigation to the workplace relationship cited by the university. Nor have officials released details about any alleged criminal conduct, victims, or incidents beyond the fact of Moore’s detention and transfer between departments.

There is also no public indication yet that Michigan had knowledge of any police involvement before announcing the firing. The timeline in reporting shows the university’s decision and the police detention occurring on the same day, but details about coordination or communication between the school and law enforcement remain undisclosed.

Background: Moore’s tenure, NCAA issues and previous suspensions

Moore joined Michigan’s staff in 2018 as tight ends coach under Jim Harbaugh after earlier stops at Louisville and Central Michigan. He was later promoted to offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator and helped oversee offensive lines that won national awards during Michigan’s rise back into the national title picture.

After Michigan won the 2023 national championship, Moore became the program’s head coach when Harbaugh left to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. Moore served as an interim head coach in 2023 for several games during Harbaugh’s suspensions and then took over full-time for the 2024 season.

His tenure, however, was shadowed by the wider sign-stealing scandal that drew intense NCAA scrutiny. During the 2025 season, Michigan imposed a two-game suspension on Moore as part of self-imposed sanctions related to that scandal, and the NCAA later added a third game that would have kept him off the sideline for the 2026 opener. Reporting also shows that Moore deleted a 52-message text thread with former staffer Connor Stalions, the alleged architect of the sign-stealing scheme, though those messages were later recovered and shared with NCAA investigators.

Moore had also previously served a one-game suspension tied to a separate NCAA recruiting infractions case during Michigan’s championship run. Despite these issues, Michigan’s latest decision explicitly cites the inappropriate relationship with a staff member, not NCAA violations, as the reason for the for-cause termination.

Coverage of his contract underscores why that distinction matters. Earlier breakdowns indicated his deal limited the school’s ability to fire him for cause over NCAA violations that were known at the time of signing. By instead basing the firing on a university policy violation involving a staff relationship, Michigan appears to be positioning itself to avoid paying a large buyout that would normally be owed in a “without cause” dismissal.

What is still not known or independently verified

Several key questions remain unanswered and are central to responsible fact checking of claims around this story. The university has not disclosed the identity, role, or department of the staff member involved in the relationship, nor whether the person reported the behavior, whether a complaint was filed, or how the internal investigation began.

Officials have also not said when the relationship occurred, whether it was ongoing, or whether any harassment or coercion allegations are part of the case. Current verified reporting only describes it as an “inappropriate relationship” that violated policy, without additional characterization.

On the law enforcement side, there is no public confirmation yet about what, if any, criminal charges may follow Moore’s detention. Statements from Saline and Pittsfield Township authorities confirm only that he was detained and turned over for investigation into potential charges. Until police reveal more, any detailed claims about alleged crimes, potential victims, or specific statutes would be speculative.

Social media posts and message boards have circulated unverified rumors about the nature of the relationship, the staff member, and the police investigation. None of those details are confirmed in reporting from the Associated Press, ESPN, CBS Sports, or other major outlets at this time. For now, the only verified facts are those contained in official university statements and carefully sourced news coverage.

Bottom line: Michigan did fire Sherrone Moore for cause after finding what it called credible evidence of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, and he was later detained by police for an investigation into potential charges. Beyond those confirmed facts, many key details remain unknown, and any specific allegations beyond what officials have stated should be treated as unverified until authorities or the university release more information.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Why did Michigan fire Sherrone Moore?

Michigan says it fired Sherrone Moore for cause after an internal investigation found credible evidence that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. The school called the conduct a clear violation of university policy and emphasized a zero tolerance approach to such behavior.

Q2: Is Sherrone Moore’s firing connected to the sign-stealing scandal?

Michigan’s official explanation links the firing to the staff relationship, not directly to the sign-stealing case. Moore previously served multi-game suspensions related to NCAA investigations, but current reporting indicates the for-cause termination is based on the policy-violating relationship, not on the sign-stealing violations themselves.

Q3: Was Sherrone Moore arrested or just detained by police?

As of the latest reports, Moore was detained by Saline police and turned over to Pittsfield Township police for investigation into potential charges. Authorities have not publicly announced that he has been formally arrested or charged, and no specific counts have been detailed.

Q4: Who is coaching Michigan now and what happens for the Citrus Bowl?

Biff Poggi has been named interim head coach following Moore’s firing. He previously filled in during Moore’s suspension and will lead Michigan as the 18th-ranked Wolverines prepare to play No. 14 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on December 31, 2025.

Q5: What does being fired “for cause” mean for Sherrone Moore’s contract and buyout?

Moore’s contract reportedly included a large buyout if he were fired without cause, estimated in the mid-eight figures over remaining years. Because Michigan has labeled the termination “for cause,” coverage of the deal indicates the school will likely avoid paying most or all of that buyout, though final outcomes could depend on contract language and any future dispute.