Former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was officially fired with cause on Wednesday, and the series of events that both led to and followed that decision raise serious questions about the leadership of the Michigan athletic department, including Athletic Director Warde Manuel.

At this point, it is difficult to fully grasp the scope of everything that has unfolded, as new information continues to emerge. However, with so much already known, it is worth laying out what has happened so far, how it has impacted the Michigan football program and its leadership, and which coaches could realistically emerge as targets for Michigan’s sudden head coaching vacancy.

Timeline of Events

Based on numerous reports from the past 48 hours, the most accurate timeline currently available is as follows.

December 8th

On Monday, Sherrone Moore’s co-worker and subordinate ended their years-long relationship. Following the breakup, the unnamed individual approached Michigan leadership, alleging the existence of an inappropriate relationship as well as months of stalking behavior near the end of that relationship.

December 10th

Wednesday morning, Sherrone Moore was fired with cause by Athletic Director Warde Manuel. According to reports, the university conducted an internal investigation following the allegations and determined that Moore had violated university policy, leading to his dismissal.

Later that day, police were called to the unnamed woman’s residence, where Moore was found and subsequently arrested.

December 12th

On Friday, Moore was formally charged with two misdemeanors and one felony. The charges include felony third degree home invasion, misdemeanor breaking and entering, and misdemeanor stalking in a domestic relationship. The charges were presented to Moore via video conference.

Details and Aftermath

The details surrounding the incident are deeply concerning. A leaked 911 call reportedly provides insight into the most serious moments of Wednesday’s events. According to the call, the unnamed woman stated that Moore entered her home and threatened both her life and his own while holding a knife. These events reportedly followed a series of calls and text messages from Moore that went unanswered.

As more information has surfaced, questions have emerged about how this situation could have gone on for so long within the Michigan athletic department. Some have also questioned how leadership, including former head coach Jim Harbaugh, may have been unaware of what was taking place.

Multiple reports indicate that Michigan had previously investigated the relationship but did not find sufficient evidence at the time to take action. Unfortunately, concerns about how the situation was handled prior to this week are not the only issues now under scrutiny.

AD Warde Manuel

Reports released today suggest that Athletic Director Warde Manuel had been made aware of Moore’s declining mental health leading up to his firing. Some accounts indicate that the unnamed individual expressed concerns that Moore was not in a good place emotionally.

Despite this, Manuel reportedly proceeded with Moore’s termination without human resources representation or emotional support personnel present. That decision has drawn criticism and renewed scrutiny of Manuel’s leadership.

Manuel’s tenure as Michigan’s athletic director has already included several major controversies, including the 2023 sign stealing allegations that resulted in Jim Harbaugh’s suspension, the 2023 firing of offensive coordinator Matt Weiss following accusations of hacking female athletes’ computers, and multiple COVID era recruiting violations.

Early reports out of Michigan indicate that Manuel is not currently on the hot seat and still has significant institutional support. That stance is difficult to reconcile given the current state of the program, but any internal discussions surrounding his job status are unlikely to become public in the near future.

What’s Next for the Michigan Football Program

For now, Biff Poggi will serve as interim head coach. Poggi is familiar with the role after stepping in during Moore’s early season two game suspension. He will lead the Wolverines into the Citrus Bowl against Texas on New Year’s Eve.

While Poggi fills the immediate vacancy, the larger question is who Michigan will target for the position long term. Several prominent coaching candidates have already landed elsewhere, including Lane Kiffin at LSU, while others such as Curt Cignetti have signed long term extensions.

Michigan remains one of the premier programs in college football, which will always generate interest. However, the latest scandal combined with recent instability could complicate the search. That raises the question of who the best and most realistic candidates are for a program in flux and operating on short notice.

Potential Coaching Targets

Jedd Fisch, Washington

Fisch has spent the last two seasons at Washington after taking over for Kalen DeBoer, who left for Alabama. He faced an uphill battle immediately, as many players followed DeBoer to Tuscaloosa or transferred elsewhere.

Despite that, Fisch guided Washington back to a winning record in his second season, finishing 8-4. He has earned a strong reputation for offensive development, an area Michigan has struggled in recently. Fisch also has Michigan ties, having worked on Harbaugh’s early staff for two seasons. If the offer is right, Fisch’s name is likely to surface frequently in the coming weeks.

Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers

There has already been significant speculation linking Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to Michigan. Minter previously worked under Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor before following him to the NFL, and he would almost certainly carry Harbaugh’s endorsement.

Minter is widely viewed as a future head coach. The key question is whether he is ready to make that jump now and whether he prefers to remain in the NFL or return to college football in a larger role.

Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

Dillingham has impressed early in his tenure at Arizona State. After leading the Sun Devils to a Big 12 Championship appearance last season behind Cam Skattebo, he followed it up with an 8-4 campaign despite dealing with significant injuries.

Dillingham is viewed as a rising coach and a potential fit for a larger program. Pairing him with five star quarterback Bryce Underwood could make sense, as Dillingham’s offensive background and quarterback development could position Michigan for a major leap in 2026.

There are other potential candidates, including Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer. However, Lea recently signed an extension, and DeBoer is unlikely to leave Alabama barring significant pressure following an early playoff exit.