The University of Michigan’s football coach has been jailed just hours after being fired by the school for having an “inappropriate relationship.”
Sherrone Moore, 39, was detained by authorities in Saline on Wednesday before being turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department.
Saline cops told ESPN that an “investigation into potential charges,” has been launched, but have not yet specified what the investigation relates to specifically.
Authorities also confirmed that the coach was later fired “with cause” after a police probe.
Saline police told ESPN that the investigation found “credible evidence” that Moore had “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,” Michigan University said in a statement seen by ESPN.
A student named Lena Reeves told MLive that the firing was “pretty crazy,” but that she was not surprised because “it’s happening a lot with people in high coaching positions.”
David Lightman, a senior at UM, said that accusations made against the Michigan Wolverine coach were “really disappointing.”
“He was given a great opportunity to be our coach, and he definitely did not take advantage of that opportunity and disrespected the athletic department and the school,” he said.
The team’s safety, Brandyn Hillman, simply wrote “wow” underneath a post about the crime on X.
However, excitement is building around newly-appointed interim coach Biff Poggi. The new coach successfully led the team in two games this year, while Moore waited out a suspension related to another case.
“He seems very excited and that he just really loves football and he loves the team,” Reeves told MLive. “Hopefully that will help out our team and our school, and maybe we’ll have a better season next year and a good (Citrus) Bowl game this year.”
Moore’s was set to wrap his second season leading the Wolverines. He took over the job the year after previous coach Jim Harbaugh led the team to a National Title and then bolted for the NFL.
Moore had been served as offensive coordinator under Harbaugh and interim head coach during Harbaugh’s suspension. The ex-coach was the University of Michigan’s first African American coach.
He is also a father to three daughters and has been married to his wife since 2015.
Initial reports about the arrest did not name Moore, with a statement from Pittsfield Township police simply stating that authorities had raced to an address to deal with an alleged assault. Records seen by WXYZ revealed that the house was home to a Michigan University staff member.
Since Moore was named, Dave Portnoy, the founder of sports and pop culture media company Barstool Sports, commended the school’s decision to fire Moore.
“On a serious note there have been a lot of schools over the years who have looked the other way with scandals. I’d just like to say I’m proud that Michigan refused to do the same,” Portnoy wrote on X Wednesday.
“Sherrone broke the moral code and it cost him his job. It’s a hard lesson but it’s the Michigan Man Way.
“Leaders and best for a reason. Proud to be a Michigan Wolverine tonight.”
Moore was also part of a sign-stealing scandal, which led the National Collegiate Atheltic Association to impose $20 million fines on the University of Michigan.
Sign-stealing is when a sports team decodes an opponent’s hand signals. The NCAA bans schools from sending scouts to future opponents’ games and using electronic equipment to record signals.
Moore was given a three-game suspension for his role in the plot, which he was expected to complete next year. His team came out on top in the College Football Playoff in 2023 despite the scandal being exposed earlier that year.
The Independent has reached out to the Pittsfield Township Police Department and the University of Michigan for comment.
Source: independent.co.uk