Michigan Football Coach Arrested Hours After Firing

Sherrone Moore, 39, head football coach of the University of Michigan, was terminated and arrested on the same day - December 10, 2025 - in two separate but closely connected developments. The university dismissed Moore “for cause” following an internal investigation, and law enforcement arrested him hours later in connection with a 911 call involving allegations of stalking and physical assault at an Ann Arbor apartment. Moore had made history in 2024 as the first Black head coach in Michigan football’s history.

Termination and the Internal Investigation

The University of Michigan announced Moore’s immediate dismissal after concluding that credible evidence existed of an inappropriate relationship between Moore and a staff member. The staff member, identified in reports as Paige Shiver, served as an executive assistant whose reported salary increased from $58,025 in 2024 to $90,000 in 2025 without a change in job title. The university characterized the termination as “for cause,” a designation that may relieve it of any obligation to fulfill Moore’s remaining contract, estimated at between $14.5 million and $16 million.

Moore had held the head coaching position since 2024, succeeding Jim Harbaugh following Harbaugh’s departure for the NFL. At the time of his firing, the Wolverines held a No. 18 national ranking.

The Arrest and Allegations

Within hours of the termination announcement, Washtenaw County law enforcement responded to a 911 call from Shiver’s Ann Arbor apartment. The caller reported that a man had been stalking her for months and had attacked her. Dispatcher audio indicated the suspect was armed with a knife and had threatened harm to the caller and himself before fleeing the scene on foot. Moore was apprehended at a nearby church and taken into custody.

Moore faces allegations of felony home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering. The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office stated that charging decisions were not expected immediately and that the matter remained under active investigation. No formal charges had been confirmed at the time of initial reporting. Moore was held in Washtenaw County Jail pending arraignment, scheduled for December 12, 2025.

Program Impact and Interim Leadership

The sudden vacancy left Michigan’s football program without a permanent head coach ahead of its scheduled Citrus Bowl appearance. Associate coach Biff Poggi was named interim head coach to lead the team through the postseason. ESPN sources reported in the days prior to Moore’s firing that his behavior had become increasingly erratic, including incidents involving confrontations with assistant coaches.

Moore’s case involves allegations that extend beyond professional misconduct into criminal conduct, with the stalking and home invasion charges representing serious legal exposure. The university has not commented publicly on the status of any related internal proceedings. The investigation by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office remains ongoing.

References: Fired Michigan coach Sherrone Moore was ‘suicidal’ after cops called to executive assistant’s apartment | 911 Caller Told Dispatcher Man Had Been ‘Stalking Her for Months’ Moments Before Sherrone Moore’s Arrest