In a swift move to fill the coaching void left by Jim Harbaugh’s departure, the University of Michigan has chosen to promote offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore to the position of head coach. The announcement was made on Friday, making Moore, at 37 years old, the first Black head coach in the program’s history.
Expressing his gratitude and readiness for the new role, Moore stated in the school’s announcement, “I have been preparing my entire coaching career for this opportunity, and I can’t think of a better place to be head coach than at the University of Michigan.” He emphasized the commitment to maintaining the legacy of championship football that the Wolverines have upheld for the past 144 years.
Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, who played as an offensive lineman at Oklahoma, has been a key figure behind the team’s recent success. The Wolverines, under Harbaugh’s leadership, claimed three consecutive outright Big Ten crowns, secured victories against Ohio State for three consecutive years, and recently clinched their first national championship since 1997.
Choosing a replacement from within the existing coaching staff, Michigan aims for a seamless transition, counting on Moore’s familiarity with the team and its recent successes. Moore’s promotion marks the fifth time in the program’s modern era that an assistant has been elevated to the head coaching position. Notably, all four previous hires reached a Rose Bowl, and two – Lloyd Carr and Bennie Oosterbaan – won national championships.
As per the memorandum of understanding obtained by us , Moore has secured a five-year deal with an annual salary of $6 million. The deal includes a $500,000 base salary, a $500,000 retention bonus if employed for the entire contract year, and $5,000,000 in additional compensation, set to increase by 2% ($100,000) each subsequent contract year.
The agreement outlines performance-based bonuses for Moore, including a $500,000 bonus for winning the Big Ten, $200,000 for reaching the 12-team College Football Playoff, and various increments for advancing through the playoff rounds, culminating in a $1,000,000 bonus for winning the national championship.
In the event of Moore’s termination without cause, Michigan would owe him 75% of his base salary and additional compensation for the remaining term. Additionally, if Moore were to leave after one year, he would owe Michigan $5,000,000, with the buyout decreasing by $1 million after each subsequent year.
A former offensive lineman at Oklahoma, Moore commenced his coaching career at Louisville and Central Michigan before joining Harbaugh’s staff at Michigan in 2018. Surviving a major coaching staff overhaul after the Wolverines’ challenging 2020 season, Moore ascended through the ranks and became the sole offensive coordinator in the past year. Notably, Michigan’s offensive line, under his coaching, secured the Joe Moore Award for the best line in the Bowl Subdivision in both 2021 and 2022, achieving a rare back-to-back feat.
Moore also served as the interim head coach during Harbaugh’s suspensions in the 2022 season, demonstrating his leadership capabilities. Athletic director Warde Manuel commended Moore’s handling of the interim role, stating, “Sherrone handled that situation in a way that sealed my already-growing confidence in him. He didn’t make it about him; it was always about the team.”
With Moore at the helm, Michigan looks to build on its recent football triumphs and continue its legacy as a powerhouse in college football.