The stunning ouster of Sherrone Moore took an even more dramatic turn Wednesday night as police detained the former Michigan football coach just hours after the university removed him from his position.
According to the New York Post, authorities in Saline, Michigan, confirmed they assisted in locating Moore before transferring him to Pittsfield Township police for what they described as an ongoing review of “potential charges.”
No details were released about the nature of that investigation, and officials have not said whether it is connected to the circumstances of his abrupt dismissal.
In a statement to ESPN, Saline police said, “The City of Saline Police Department assisted in locating and detaining former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore. Mr. Moore was turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department for investigation into potential charges.”
Saline Police Chief Marlene Radzik told the Detroit News that Pittsfield Township is handling the full complaint. The department did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday night.
The late-evening detention capped a day of remarkable upheaval for one of college football’s most prominent programs.
Michigan announced shortly before 5 p.m. that Moore had been fired “with cause, effective immediately” after the school said it uncovered “credible evidence” that he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member — a violation of university policy. The school emphasized it maintains “zero tolerance for such behavior.”
Biff Poggi was named interim head coach.
According to reporting from The Athletic, the university launched its internal review after receiving an anonymous tip. Investigators initially came up empty, but new information surfaced within the last 24 hours, prompting Michigan to take swift action.
CBS Sports reported that major program donors had recently learned of the allegations, with some pulling back financial commitments as concerns grew.
Inside the football building, the tension had been mounting. One staff member told the outlet, “It’s hard to ignore,” noting the uncertainty that spread as news of the inquiry leaked.
Moore, who is married with three daughters, became head coach in January 2024 after Jim Harbaugh left Ann Arbor for the NFL. Over two seasons, Moore led the Wolverines to a 16–8 record, including a bowl win over Alabama and a 9–3 finish this year. His final game was a lopsided 27–9 loss to rival Ohio State.
Michigan is scheduled to face Texas in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 — a matchup it will now enter without the coach it expected to lead the program for years to come.
