Michigan’s stunning move rocks college football after ‘inappropriate relationship’ emerges

Dec 11, 2025 - 00:00

Michigan will be on the search for a new coach.

In massive news, the school dismissed head coach Sherrone Moore after his second season in charge.

Acting head coach Sherrone Moore of the Michigan Wolverines watches the teams warm up before the game against the Maryland — Michigan will start a search for its new head coach

Athletic director Warde Manuel said Wednesday the decision stemmed from an inappropriate relationship involving Moore and a staff member.

“Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” Manuel said in a statement.

“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 UM maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.”

Associate head coach Biff Poggi will step in as interim head coach, starting immediately. The Wolverines are set to take on Texas in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.

Michigan went 8-5 in Moore’s first season and improved to 9-3 this year, staying in College Football Playoff contention until the final week of the regular season.

Their CFP hopes were dashed by a 27-9 home defeat to rival Ohio State, snapping a four-game winning streak in the series.

Moore joined Michigan in 2018 as the tight ends coach and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2021.

By 2023, he had become the team’s sole offensive coordinator and also stepped in as acting head coach during Jim Harbaugh‘s Big Ten suspension over a sign-stealing scandal.

Under Moore’s leadership, Michigan went 3-0 during that stretch and added another victory while Harbaugh served a separate suspension.

The school will now begin a broad search for its next head coach, though the timing remains awkward.

Head Football Coach Sherrone Moore of the Michigan Wolverines reacts during the first half of a college football game against the Washington Huskies — Moore went 17-8 in his two seasons at the helm

Head coach Sherrone Moore of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Ohio State Buckeyes — Moore is out in Michigan

The coaching carousel has mostly spun and been filled, and National Signing Day has passed.

Who will Michigan hire?

Some of the names currently being thrown out there include Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, USC’s Lincoln Riley, and former LSU head coach Brian Kelly.

At this point it’s all speculation and noise.

DeBoer is focused on preparing the Crimson Tide for its huge first-round playoff matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners next Friday.

Riley and the Trojans are gearing up to face TCU in the Alamo Bowl in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Kelly is still counting every last dollar of his $54 million buyout from LSU.

Noted Michigan alum Dave Portnoy suggested his Wolverines go after Lane Kiffin.

Lane Kiffin speaks at a press conference as he is introduced as the new head football coach of the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium — Kiffin left Ole Miss to go to LSU

“How much did LSU pay @Lane_Kiffin Let’s just double it. He’d leave. Reunite him Underwood,” Portnoy posted on X.

No, Kiffin isn’t going anywhere, but that won’t stop Portnoy from trolling the internet.

The fact of the matter is that Michigan is one of the top coaching jobs in college football, bar none. Ninety-nine percent of the country would be interested in the job.

Just when it seemed the coaching carousel had settled, the ultimate curveball has been thrown. College football is truly the sport that keeps on giving.

Never a quiet day.