From Fired Coach to Felony Charges in 48 Hours
Sherrone Moore's fall from Michigan football coach to criminal defendant happened with stunning speed. Fired Wednesday for cause due to an "inappropriate relationship with a staff member," Moore was arrested hours later and charged Friday with felony third-degree home invasion, stalking in a domestic relationship, and breaking and entering. Bond was set at $25,000.
Friday's arraignment revealed disturbing details about Moore's actions after being terminated. Prosecutors say he forced entry into the staff member's apartment and threatened to kill himself in front of her, saying "I'm going to kill myself. I'm going to make you watch. My blood is on your hands. You ruined my life."
Moore appeared via videoconference wearing a white jumpsuit, his expression sullen and hands folded in his lap. He winced as prosecutors detailed the timeline of his threatening behavior.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
First assistant prosecutor Kati Rezmierski laid out Moore's actions after Michigan fired him Wednesday. He "barged his way" into the woman's apartment, went directly to a kitchen drawer, and "grabbed several butter knives and a pair of kitchen scissors" before threatening to take his own life in front of her.
Rezmierski called Moore's behavior "a series of very, very threatening and intimidating and terrifying statements and behaviors." The woman called police after Moore forced entry into her residence.
The Relationship That Led to Moore's Firing
Moore had an "intimate relationship" with the woman—a Michigan staff member—for "a number of years," according to prosecutors. She ended the relationship on Monday, which triggered a flurry of unanswered calls and texts from Moore.
Moore is married to another woman, and they have three children together. The affair violated both his contract and university policy, giving Michigan grounds to fire him for cause without paying the nearly $12.3 million remaining on his deal.
After the breakup, the woman went to Michigan officials and detailed their relationship, providing supporting evidence. The school had previously investigated a tip about the situation, sources told ESPN, but couldn't prove it occurred. Her admission and evidence led to Moore's immediate termination Wednesday.
The Timeline of Moore's Collapse
Monday: The woman ends her relationship with MooreTuesday-Wednesday: Moore floods her with unanswered calls and textsWednesday morning: Michigan fires Moore for causeWednesday afternoon: Moore forces entry into the woman's apartment and threatens suicideWednesday evening: Moore is arrestedFriday: Moore is arraigned on three criminal charges
That's 72 hours from breakup to felony charges—a catastrophic personal and professional implosion playing out in real time.
Bond Conditions and Next Steps
Moore's $25,000 bond comes with strict conditions:
• GPS tether monitoring• No contact with the woman• Orders not to go near her residence• Probable cause conference scheduled for January 22
Moore's defense attorney, Joe Simon, declined to say where Moore would stay upon release or comment on his client's mental state. Simon confirmed Moore underwent a mental health evaluation before being returned to law enforcement custody.
Michigan's Investigation Before the Firing
Michigan had received a tip about Moore's inappropriate relationship and investigated it, but couldn't prove the affair occurred without concrete evidence. That changed when the woman came forward Monday after ending the relationship and provided documentation supporting her claims.
The university moved quickly once they had proof. Moore was fired for cause Wednesday morning, eliminating Michigan's obligation to pay the remainder of his contract. Hours later, he was arrested for his actions at the woman's apartment.
The Charges Moore Faces
Felony third-degree home invasion: Forcing entry into someone's residence without permission. This is the most serious charge Moore faces and could result in prison time if convicted.
Stalking in a domestic relationship (misdemeanor): Repeated unwanted contact causing fear or distress in someone you've had an intimate relationship with. The flurry of unanswered calls and texts after the breakup likely supports this charge.
Breaking and entering (misdemeanor): Unlawfully entering a building or structure. This overlaps with the home invasion charge but can be charged separately.
The felony alone carries significant potential prison time. Combined with the misdemeanors, Moore faces serious legal consequences beyond losing his coaching career and $12.3 million contract.
How Michigan's Season Unraveled
Moore took over as Michigan's head coach after Jim Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers following the 2023 national championship season. The expectations were enormous—defend the title, maintain the program's momentum, and prove he was the right choice to lead one of college football's bluest blue bloods.
Instead, Moore's tenure lasted less than two full seasons before imploding spectacularly. Whatever success he had on the field is now completely overshadowed by his firing for cause, criminal charges, and the disturbing behavior prosecutors detailed Friday.
The Woman at the Center
The staff member Moore had the relationship with demonstrated courage by coming forward to Michigan officials after ending the affair. She provided evidence supporting her claims, knowing it would likely end Moore's career and expose her own involvement.
When Moore forced entry into her apartment and threatened suicide while holding kitchen knives and scissors, she called police. That decision likely prevented the situation from escalating further and ensured Moore faced accountability for his actions.
She now has legal protection through the bond conditions requiring Moore to wear a GPS monitor, maintain no contact, and stay away from her residence.
What Happens Next
Moore's probable cause conference is scheduled for January 22, where a judge will determine if sufficient evidence exists to proceed with the charges. If the case moves forward, Moore faces trial on one felony and two misdemeanor charges.
Meanwhile, Michigan moves on without him. The university avoided paying $12.3 million by firing Moore for cause, and they've already begun the search for his replacement. Moore's name will be permanently associated with this scandal rather than any coaching achievements.
Sherrone Moore went from Michigan football coach to criminal defendant in 72 hours. The charges are serious, the behavior prosecutors described is disturbing, and his career is finished. This isn't a cautionary tale—it's a complete collapse.