Sherrone Moore Hired As Michigan Head Football Coach
In the least surprising move of all time, Michigan Football has officially named the successor to Jim Harbaugh:
Moore wins.
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 26, 2024
Moore championships.
Moore SMASH!@Coach_SMoore Named Michigan’s Head Football Coach » https://t.co/fjbTgR8AwN#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/oYY4tFR98k
Moore, a native of Derby, Kansas, played college football as a guard at Oklahoma University after a stint at Butler Community College. He graduated from OU in 2008 and joined Louisville in 2009 as a graduate assistant for the football team. Moore stayed at Louisville into the tenure of Charlie Strong, being elevated to tight ends coach in 2012. Strong's 2012 and 2013 teams were highly successful but Strong took a promotion to Texas after that, which is when Moore made his move to the State of Michigan. Moore joined Central Michigan's staff in 2014 as tight ends coach under Dan Enos and he would be retained by head coach John Bonamego, who took over for the departed Enos in 2015. Moore was eventually elevated to Assistant Head Coach in 2017, when the Chips went 8-5.
Jim Harbaugh hired Moore in the 2017-18 offseason, when he was reshuffling the offensive staff after the firing of Tim Drevno and Greg Frey. Ed Warriner took over the OL duties, which Drevno/Frey shared, while Moore took over tight ends, which was Frey's sole domain on the 2017 team. Moore stayed on Michigan's staff through the disastrous 2020 season as TE coach, before shifting to OL in 2021 after Warinner was not retained. During his three seasons as OL coach, Moore's offensive lines won the Joe Moore Award for the nation's best OL twice. Moore shared offensive coordinator duties in 2021 with Josh Gattis and 2022 with Matt Weiss. After Weiss' mysterious firing under a shroud of scandal, Moore was given sole OC duties for the 2023 season, in addition to OL responsibilities.
Harbaugh's dual suspensions in 2023 allowed Moore to see his stature within the program grow. He was the interim head coach for the Bowling Green game in September and then was chosen over Mike Hart, Jesse Minter, and Jay Harbaugh to be the team's interim coach for the crucial three game stretch in November when Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the SignGate scandal. Moore went 4-0 in his games as interim head coach, delivering wins over ranked PSU and OSU, which served as his audition for the job. The passionate Moore passed with flying colors in leading the Maize & Blue to victories and at age 37, he seemed to be the obvious long term answer for the program when Harbaugh departed.
Anecdotal reporting from insiders had suggested that Michigan was notifying recruits for some time that Moore was the coach in waiting should Harbaugh ever not be around. With Harbaugh taking the job with the LA Chargers, all eyes turned to Moore. It didn't take long, as there was broad consensus among fellow coaches and players that Moore was the guy for the gig. He has been an integral part of Michigan's 2020s football turnaround as a culture builder and has proven himself to be one of the staff's best recruiters. Whether that can pay dividends on the recruiting trail remains to be seen, but there is certainly upside in hiring a young, charismatic coach.
Moore's contract is reported to be five years, $5.5 M per season and he is the first Black (full-time) Head Coach in University of Michigan Football history. The first order of business for Moore will be filling out the rest of his staff, as there is already a vacancy at LB coach due to the fired Chris Partridge, and ones will likely be opening at DC (Jesse Minter presumed to go to LA), special teams (ditto for Jay Harbaugh), OL (himself), and OC (also himself). There have also been rumblings about a possible Mike Hart departure at RB coach, so stay tuned on that front. Hiring quality assistant coaches is a vital part of the responsibility of being a successful head coach in modern football and thus, the hiring Moore does in the near future will be fascinating to watch.
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January 26th, 2024 at 10:26 PM ^
I wish we could get him back but I don't think it's possible.
January 26th, 2024 at 8:55 PM ^
It's not that I don't think Hart is ready for a coordinator job. Rather, I'd like to keep the internal promotions to a minimum for this round. Too much risk.
January 27th, 2024 at 1:14 AM ^
There are risk in going outside the program too.
Is Hart ready? How well does he mesh with Moore? Is there someone else out there more qualified and can mesh with Moore's vision?
Time will tell...
January 27th, 2024 at 8:37 AM ^
In my uneducated and useless opinion, a first time HC I think there's probably less risk going with outside coordinator hires (assuming they have experience doing so) than an internal promotion of someone who has never coordinated before.
I'd imagine Moore will do his due diligence and look both inside and outside (I'd kick the tires on Joe Moorhead) but either way I expect this process to be taken care of quickly.
January 26th, 2024 at 8:17 PM ^
the right move.
go blue, baby.
January 26th, 2024 at 8:20 PM ^
J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Coach Sherrone Moore?
Congrats, Coach. We're behind you!
January 26th, 2024 at 8:21 PM ^
I'm fully on board and excited for Coach Moore, so folks don't take this question as doubting: other than Freeman at ND has there been a head coach with less overall coordinating experience before? 2 seasons as OC and the resume speaks for itself but just curious
January 26th, 2024 at 8:24 PM ^
Lincoln Riley comes to mind
January 26th, 2024 at 8:25 PM ^
Ryan day ring a bell?
david Shaw?
I’ll stop now
January 26th, 2024 at 8:33 PM ^
These individuals all had more than 3 years of coordinating experience (at various institutions)
January 26th, 2024 at 8:32 PM ^
Before Harbaugh, who was the last Michigan head coach to win a natty?
Carr was a longtime assistant to Bo, but much of that was as a position coach.
January 26th, 2024 at 8:35 PM ^
Looking it up, Carr had 7 years of DC experience before HC - more than i remembered
January 26th, 2024 at 9:39 PM ^
Jim Harbaugh.
Dan Campbell.
Brady Hoke.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:00 PM ^
Apparently Dabo only had one season as an OC before taking over as HC at Clemson. And technically only half a season because he became interim HC six games into that one season.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:18 PM ^
This mystery coach has had a pretty good career so far despite 0 years of coordinating experience:
January 26th, 2024 at 11:51 PM ^
The answer is obviously John Beilein
January 26th, 2024 at 8:22 PM ^
Promote hart to OC
January 26th, 2024 at 8:28 PM ^
I'd be happy about that! Promote him and keep him here on the staff!
January 26th, 2024 at 8:24 PM ^
So excited for Coach Moore! Let's go!!!
January 26th, 2024 at 8:26 PM ^
Really happy for him and his family. Feel he deserved it and it also doesn't totally disrupt the coaching change over as players already know and like him, etc. Just really happy about this hire.
January 26th, 2024 at 8:27 PM ^
First, congratulations Head Coach Sherrone Moore!
Second, what a great picture by Patrick
January 26th, 2024 at 8:27 PM ^
MOORE championships to come … BET !!!
January 26th, 2024 at 8:27 PM ^
It may be overenthusiastic of me, but I’d be ok with Muppets for this.
January 26th, 2024 at 8:29 PM ^
Very happy!
January 26th, 2024 at 8:34 PM ^
I like it. LFG
I think the folks who say he's not ready or needs more seasoning have unrealistic expectations and are underselling Sherrone's accomplishments to date. I'm looking forward to him making the team his while hopefully retaining the best of Harbaugh's mentorship/lessons learned. If he's good as the head ball coach, he's only 37 so things could be very good in A2 for a very long time.
January 26th, 2024 at 8:52 PM ^
Exactly. Sean McVay won a Super Bowl at age 36. If you can coach, you can coach. If you can lead people, you can lead people.
Certainly, there’s a lot to be said for experience, but he has played or coached at the collegiate level for 20 years.
What he lacks in age can be made up for with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. And by that I mean he’s apprenticed under Harbaugh. It’s time for the student to become the teacher.
I am pleased with the hire and looking forward to August 31.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:20 PM ^
I respectfully disagree. Leadership is much more commonly learned though years of experience than natural ability
January 26th, 2024 at 8:38 PM ^
Congrats Coach!
January 26th, 2024 at 8:49 PM ^
Why not Hart to OC? Unless he’s up for HC somewhere else, what would hold this up?
January 26th, 2024 at 11:04 PM ^
There’s a lot of reasons that isn’t the best option. He’s never called plays, so then you end up having a lot on Moore’s plate with him trying to help with that going into game days, you’d have a rookie OC and rookie HC with big time expectations, and Hart is a mediocre recruiter. You can accept a really good OC that’s mediocre at recruiting, as long as they are really respected as a playcaller. But Hart isn’t that so he fails on a lot of what you would want for this season. In 3 or 4 years after Moore is established as a HC and has some experience you could probably promote him if the next guy moves on at OC. But promoting him this season probably isn’t the best idea.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:14 PM ^
He looks a lot like his older brother Geoffrey.
January 26th, 2024 at 8:53 PM ^
Great news- bleeping’ awesome. By estimates Michigan should have 5 mill a year to throw at good assistants.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:20 PM ^
Awesome. Glad that the uncertainty is over and I'm excited to see how Moore does.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:24 PM ^
The only hire that makes sense. As for the assistant coach hires, I’d love to see Hart become the OC. Maybe won’t happen though. Make Campbell the QB/passing game guy, elevate Newsome to OL. If Minter goes, then go get Orr from the ravens for DC/LBs. If most of the current staff is retained/elevated that is the makings of a solid coaching staff.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:07 PM ^
I think Hart is gone. He's the same age as Sherrone. His path to the top position effectively just got blocked
January 26th, 2024 at 9:28 PM ^
Moores contract is cheap, surprise. He's already beat Ohio State/Penn State & is responsible for at least half of the nc. Moore's contract should be near Fickell's which is 7.6.
Moore's contract 5.5 annually should've been offered to keep Minter.
Anyway, I'm just glad we finally have a coach that wants to be at Michigan. Recruiting has to & will be his niche.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:08 PM ^
I had the same thought. Obviously Moore doesn’t command Harbaugh-level money, but I really thought he’d be in the $7M range given that he’s at Michigan. I also assumed that, given the absolutely enormous value Minter would bring to the program by remaining for another year to coach this defense, the difference would allow us to make him a proposal in the $4-5M range and give him something to think about.
This HC salary makes it almost certain that we are not going to be in a position to offer Minter money to make him consider the option of staying. I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but it has the makings of yet another AD blunder.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:29 PM ^
Yay! We didn’t screw up the easiest decision ever.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:32 PM ^
He's been our official HC less than 24hrs and is already 1-0 vs OSU. Not bad!
January 26th, 2024 at 9:36 PM ^
The "Hello" post doesn't include his 40 tone. What's up with that?
January 26th, 2024 at 9:45 PM ^
I’m super enthused about Moore leading this program.
We need to lock up a Ravens lineage DC and our defense should be among the very best.
If we could find a good portal QB we could contend again.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:51 PM ^
We got our guy! Go Blue!!
January 26th, 2024 at 9:55 PM ^
If he's the real deal we'll be great for decades.
Certainly seems like a great person and fits our culture.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:02 PM ^
Would Hart's departure have ramifications when it comes to keeping Jordan Marshall?
January 26th, 2024 at 10:05 PM ^
I love the shit out of this hire!
January 26th, 2024 at 10:10 PM ^
$5.5M is a bargain considering we were going to pay Harbaugh like $12M per year. I hope that $6.5M the AD is saving will go in to hiring the best DC and other openings, and retaining Mike Hart and the rest of the staff. And propping up the NIL fund!
January 26th, 2024 at 10:11 PM ^
It's funny how the Stalions thing led to so many positives
- Unified fan base (rarity for UM)
- Unified and hyper-focused team (not so rare perhaps, but great to have)
- Moore gets practice run at Coach in biggest games of the year, is better prepared for the job as a result
January 27th, 2024 at 11:21 AM ^
This is clear evidence that the scheme was even more far-reaching than any of us suspected!
/s
January 26th, 2024 at 10:39 PM ^
Congratulations Coach Moore! You deserve the opportunity. I love your passion for this program and can’t wait to see you have great success as the HC of the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverine’s! GO Blue!!
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