The instant Jim Harbaugh accepted the head coaching role with the Los Angeles Chargers, Sherrone Moore became the favorite to replace him at Michigan. On Friday evening, he was officially named the 21st U-M football coach.
Moore has spent the last three years as the Wolverines’ offensive line coach. He held a co-offensive coordinator title in 2021 and 2022 before handling full OC responsibilities in 2023.
The 2023 season also included unusual promotions. Due to self-imposed and Big Ten-issued suspensions to Jim Harbaugh, Moore was the head coach for four of Michigan’s victories en route to the national championship. That means Moore’s résumé already includes a 4-0 record as the U-M head coach, including wins over Bowling Green, Maryland, Penn State and Ohio State. Now, he gets the reins full-time.
Many within the program expected and endorsed Moore for the promotion given his track record as offensive line coach, offensive coordinator and acting head coach. As Zak Zinter shared Wednesday night: “No interviews needed. It’s Papa Moore’s time.” Harbaugh himself recommended Moore as his successor, including the following comment as far back as 2022:
“They don’t get any better. There’s been a lot of great line coaches. I mean, I can’t think of one better than Sherrone Moore,” Harbaugh said then. “… Nobody I have more respect for than Sherrone Moore, nobody that I worked with do I have more respect for. Like a brother. Like my own brother. And he’s — that trust, that friendship, that love goes both ways. That’s what I — that’s how I feel about Sherrone Moore.”
Here is a primer on Sherrone Moore, the new Michigan football coach:
Sherrone Moore played college football at Oklahoma
Sherrone Moore was a wrestler and basketball player early in high school before focusing more heavily on football as an upperclassman. He began his college career at Butler County (Kansas) Community College, where he was a two-year starter on the offensive line before signing with Oklahoma. Those two seasons both resulted in league championships.
Moore played left tackle at Butler County and was a backup guard in Norman. He appeared in 14 games in 2006-07 as the Sooners won a pair of Big 12 Championships and appeared in two BCS bowls.
After his playing career ended at Oklahoma, Moore got his Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from Louisville, where he also worked as a graduate assistant.
Moore’s coaching career began at Louisville and Central Michigan
After working as a graduate assistant (and making the Honor Roll) at Louisville from 2009-11, Moore earned a more permanent role as tight ends coach starting in 2012. During his final two years, the Cardinals went 23-3 with a Big East championship and a BCS bowl appearance before Charlie Strong left for Texas.
Moore landed at Central Michigan, where he was welcomed with the following headline: “Moore Brings Winning Resume, Attitude to Chippewas.”
“It’s all about an attitude,” Moore said then. “If you think you can win, you know you can win, then you’re going to win.
“Whether you go to Oklahoma, Alabama, whatever school — the difference between the programs that win and those that don’t is those that win they think they can. If you step on the field and think you can, you’re going to be a winner. That’s the kind of attitude and mindset I bring to my guys.”
In Mount Pleasant, Moore helped develop future NFL tight end Tyler Conklin and also added assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator duties.
Michigan hired Moore from CMU in January 2018.
This story continues below…
