After three straight offseasons of flirting with the NFL, Jim Harbaugh finally left Michigan after leading the program to its first national title since 1997 to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
It’s a top-tier job that certainly would have drawn interest from a number of outside candidates, but instead, the Wolverines moved quickly and promoted offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday night and confirmed shortly after by Michigan with a video featuring Moore himself.
It’s the 37-year-old’s first head coaching gig, but he inherits a program poised to compete right away in the new Big Ten after winning the league the last three seasons.
From the man himself. It’s official!#GoBlue | @Coach_SMoore pic.twitter.com/x7pg6lh2xI
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 27, 2024
All of us rn#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/pLdDkAnua4
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 27, 2024
Here are five things you need to know about the Wolverines’ new head man.
1
He served as the interim coach in 4 games in 2023
While Moore is a first-time head coach, he does enter this job with prior head coaching experience. With Harbaugh’s multiple suspensions in 2023, he served as the interim coach in four games.
Moore was suspended along with Harbaugh for the season-opener as part of a self-imposed penalty, but he returned to coach the third game of Harbaugh’s initial suspension against Bowling Green.
After Harbaugh was suspended again for the final three games by the Big Ten, he took over the interim role once again, leading the Wolverines to wins over Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State.
Not too shabby to be able to say you’ve already notched a victory over the Buckeyes as the coach of the Maize and Blue.
2
He's been on staff at Michigan since 2018
Moore spent his first three seasons under Harbaugh as the tight ends coach. His role changed in 2021 when he became the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. He led a Michigan line that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s best in 2021 and 2022.
He earned the sole OC title this season.
Before arriving in Ann Arbor, Moore spent four years at Central Michigan as a tight ends coach as well as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. He was also previously a tight ends coach at Louisville.
3
He played college football at Oklahoma
A native of Derby, Kansas, Moore went the junior college route, spending two years at Butler Community College before transferring to Oklahoma, where he appeared in 14 games in 2006 and 2007 as an offensive guard, helping to lead the Sooners to a pair of Big 12 titles and BCS bowl appearances.
He didn’t play in the NFL and instead began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Louisville in 2009.
4
He's the first Black head coach in Michigan history
Moore is breaking barriers at Michigan, becoming the first Black coach in program history. He will work under Warde Manuel, who himself is one of just three current Black athletic directors in the Big Ten and the second at Michigan after Tom Goss, who was hired in 1997.
5
Moore was the subject of a viral, emotional moment after win over Penn State
Odds are, you remember Moore from his postgame interview after the Wolverines knocked off Penn State in November. With Harbaugh’s suspension announced leading into the team’s biggest game of the year to that point, Moore gave an impassioned (and NSFW) speech after the game.
While it was the subject of some jokes, it also showed Moore’s devotion to the team and made him a fan favorite, which surely helped his chances of getting the job.
