The internet is still reeling after University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore was fired for cause on Wednesday (Dec. 10). Not only was he terminated following an internal investigation, two days later he was charged with two misdemeanors and a felony. But the immediate threat to his freedom is only the beginning of his nightmare.
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Even before his charges, his contract with the University of Michigan ended immediately. Moore’s base contract was reportedly for around $27.5 million over five years, beginning in 2024. He was nearing the end of his second contract year, until the school terminated him “with cause,” allowing the university to skirt around paying him out legally.
A “for cause” firing means Michigan fired the head coach for allegedly violating a clause set in his contract. Said contract, obtained by The Athletic, holds the smoking gun: a specific clause that allows Michigan to void his multi-million-dollar contract for misconduct defined by the university’s standard practice guide.
In the school’s standard practice guide, according to the outlet, a supervisor cannot initiate an intimate relationship with a subordinate. And if one exists but not initiated by the supervisor, it must be disclosed to their higher-ups to ensure the relationship is free of any abuse of power. Failure to do so includes disciplinary actions and termination.
Because Moore’s alleged “conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior” per Michigan, he is not entitled to his contract’s near $14 million buyout…nor the remainder of his salary. Ouch. Moore was set to make a base of $16.5 million over the next three years, Fox Business reported. Had Moore been fired for his on-field performance, the university would be on the hook to pay him, according to USA Today.
Moore’s multi-million dollar salary this season ranked 40th among the highest-paid coaches in college football. His salary was the 14th-highest of the 18 coaches in the Big Ten, according to the outlet’s college football salary database.
The Root previously reported how Michigan fired Moore, a married father of three daughters, for engaging in what the school said was an inappropriate relationship with a university staffer. “Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately. Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member,” the school said in a statement.
After he was fired, the Saline Police Department said it “assisted in locating and detaining” Moore before turning him over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department for investigation. According to The New York Times, he was charged with stalking, breaking and entering and felony home invasion on Friday (Dec. 12).
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