Sherrone Moore’s newly signed contract with Michigan could protect the Wolverines’ head coach from being fired for NCAA violations.
Per the terms of his contract, which Eleven Warriors obtained Monday via a public records request, Michigan can terminate Moore’s employment if it determines Moore violated NCAA rules, even if that violation occurred before he signed the contract. However, the contract also stipulates that a violation that occurred before he signed the contract “shall not be deemed a basis for termination with cause” if Michigan “had actual knowledge of the facts or alleged facts that are the basis for the violation prior to the execution of this Agreement by all parties.”
Moore’s contract was only finalized last week after it was signed by Moore and Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel on Sept. 6 and by Michigan president Santa Ono on Sept. 10. Michigan received its Notice of Allegations from the NCAA, which reportedly accused Moore of committing a Level I violation for deleting a thread of 52 text messages with former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions, on Aug. 25.
Moore could face a suspension and a show-cause penalty for the Level I violation, according to the draft Notice of Allegations that ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Dan Murphy obtained on Aug. 4.
The contract would not protect Moore if he is found to have committed NCAA violations that Michigan did not already know about before last week or if he commits NCAA violations in the future. The contract states that Moore could be terminated for cause if he commits “deliberate or serious rule violation(s)” or if he “knows of a serious violation of NCAA rules by a coach, staff member, athlete, or other representative of the University's athletic interests and fails to promptly report it to the Athletic Director of the University or the Compliance Services Office.”
If Michigan chooses to terminate Moore’s contract without cause at any point over the next five years, it will owe Moore 75% of his remaining salary, though he would be required to seek new employment and the amount of that buyout would be reduced by his compensation upon finding a new job.
Moore is set to make $5.5 million in total compensation for the 2024 season. That compensation is set to increase to $5.61 million in 2025, $5.72 million in 2026, $5.83 million in 2027 and $5.95 million in 2028. He will also receive a $500,000 retention bonus for each season he remains employed and is eligible for performance bonuses for the Wolverines making and winning the Big Ten Championship Game, making and advancing in the College Football Playoff, having an Academic Progress Rate of 960 or higher and/or winning Big Ten or national coach of the year awards.
Moore’s full contract can be found below.
