Michigan fired coach Sherrone Moore with cause on Wednesday after just two seasons with the program.
ESPN's Adam Schefter and Dan Wetzel first reported the news. According to the report, Michigan launched an investigation that found “credible evidence” that Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel released a statement that read: “This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.”
Moore – who was an offensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh before taking on the full-time job – had a 16-8 record in two seasons. The Wolverines were 8-5 in 2023, but late-season victories against Ohio State and Alabama took some heat off Moore. Michigan finished 9-3 this season.
Moore was suspended twice while coaching at Michigan. He served a one-game suspension in 2023 as a result of recruiting violations during COVID-19. This season, he served a two-game suspension as a result of deleting texts from former staffer Connor Stallions. Now, Michigan will look for a new coach.
It's still a blue-blood job, and it will draw interest from major candidates. Here is a look at the early favorites.
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Michigan coaching candidates
Who might be in line to take Sherrone Moore's job at Michigan? Let's take a look at some of the best candidates:
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama coach
DeBoer, 51, led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff and has a 19-7 record after two seasons. The truth is Michigan should have made this hire after Harbaugh left following a 34-13 victory against Washington – led by DeBoer – in the 2024 CFP championship game. DeBoer might be a better fit at Michigan, and he could develop quarterback Bryce Underwood much like he did Michael Penix Jr., who was a Heisman Trophy finalist this season. It would be a major shakeup, and DeBoer denied interest in the Penn State job, which was filled by Matt Campbell. Would he reconsider that stance if Michigan calls after the College Football Playoff?
Brian Kelly, former LSU coach
Kelly, 64, might not be the ideal long-term candidate, but there is no question he knows how to coach at major programs. He won 10 or more games in seven consecutive seasons between Notre Dame and LSU from 2017-23. The unceremonious exit from LSU after a 5-3 start this season cannot be ignored, but Kelly would be a better fit at Michigan. He had head coaching stints at Grand Valley State and Central Michigan, and the thought of a former Notre Dame coach taking a job at Michigan is at minimum high entertainment. The question becomes whether Kelly really wants to coach again, and whether Michigan wants to pay that high price of a coach also known for scandal.
Lincoln Riley, USC coach
Riley, 42, is more of a long-shot given the Trojans were 9-3 this season and reeled in a top recruiting class. But If Michigan is looking to change up its offense – which it should – and give the very-best quarterback development for Underwood the next two years, then Riley – who has produced three Heisman Trophy-winning QBs between Oklahoma and USC – would be the call to make. Riley is 35-17 the last four years with the Trojans, and he split head-to-head meetings between USC and Michigan the last two seasons. He left Oklahoma somewhat abruptly for USC. Would Riley be willing to make a Lane Kiffin-like jump between Big Ten programs?
Jedd Fisch, Washington coach
Fisch, 49, was the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Michigan from 2015-16 under Harbaugh and was a possible name in the Florida coaching search. He is 30-32 at Arizona and Washington the last four seasons, a nearly.500 record that isn't going to make for an exciting hire. Fisch does work well with quarterbacks, and the Huskies did have a solid recruiting class this season. He's more of a second-tier option in this search.
Jesse Minter, Chargers defensive coordinator
Minter, 42, will generate some interest. He was the defensive coordinator on the Michigan national championship team, and he followed Harbaugh to the Chargers. He is a great candidate, but there is a hitch. Minter has a one-year show cause penalty, and the Wolverines might be looking to be a clean break from all the scandals during the Harbaugh era. If the Wolverines are looking to break away from that, then hiring Minter does not make sense.
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State coach
Dillingham, 35, was the offensive coordinator at Oregon in 2022 under Lanning, and he compiled a 22-16 record at Arizona State. Dillingham is 5-1 against top-25 teams the last two seasons with the Sun Devils, and the lone loss was a 39-31 double-overtime loss to No. 4 Texas in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. It's a big step up in visibility at Michigan, but he could be the right fit for the job.
Dan Mullen, UNLV coach
Mullen, 53, said he had "no interest" in coaching in the SEC. Would his opinion change in the Big Ten? He won 10 games in his first season at UNLV. He was 34-15 in four seasons at Florida, a job with similar expectations at Michigan. Mullen works the portal well, and he comes from the Urban Meyer coaching tree. Mullen has one more Power 4 job left, and this could bubble up if the high-profile names turn this job down. He's the best candidate outside the Power 4.
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