Michigan is promoting from within to replace Jim Harbaugh.
Sherrone Moore, who served as acting head coach during Harbaugh’s suspension this past season, will now be the permanent head coach of the Wolverines after Harbaugh left Ann Arbor to become the head coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.
Moore wins.
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 26, 2024
Moore championships.
Moore SMASH!@Coach_SMoore Named Michigans Head Football Coach https://t.co/fjbTgR8AwN#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/oYY4tFR98k
It will be the first head coaching job for Moore, who has been an assistant coach at Michigan since 2018. Moore initially joined the Wolverines as tight ends coach in 2018, then was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 2021. He became Michigan’s sole offensive coordinator last season after Matt Weiss was fired amid an investigation into computer access crimes.
Moore became the likely choice to succeed Harbaugh when he led the Wolverines to a trio of wins at the end of the 2023 regular season – including wins over Ohio State and Penn State – as Michigan’s acting head coach while Harbaugh was suspended from coaching in games after the Big Ten determined Michigan violated the league’s sportsmanship policy by conducting an impermissible in-person scouting operation over multiple seasons.
Moore also served as acting head coach for Michigan’s third game of the season against Bowling Green while Harbaugh was serving a separate three-game suspension for lying to NCAA investigators about recruiting violations. He officially starts his tenure at Michigan with a 1-0 record as a head coach as the three wins at the end of the regular season were credited to Harbaugh by Michigan.
“Sherrone has proven to be a great leader for our football program, especially the offensive line and players on the offensive side of the football,” Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel said in the Wolverines’ official announcement. "He is a dynamic, fierce and competitive individual who gets the best out of the players he mentors. The players love playing for him and being with him in the building every day."
The 37-year-old becomes the first Michigan coach to be promoted from within since Lloyd Carr in 1995.
Moore, who led Michigan’s offensive line to back-to-back Joe Moore Award wins in 2021 and 2022, starts his head coaching career with the advantage of taking over a program that just won the national championship. However, Moore will have to replace 17 of Michigan’s 22 primary starters from last season while the program faces the possibility of being hit with NCAA sanctions as the investigation into the sign-stealing scheme orchestrated by former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions continues.
