University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore has been fired ‘for cause’, after an internal investigation found ‘credible evidence’ of an inappropriate relationship with a member of his staff.

Athletic director Warde Manuel, in an official statement, underscored that Moore was in violation of university policy, with Michigan having a ‘zero tolerance’ approach towards such conduct. Moore, who previously served as the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh, before assuming head coaching responsibilities on the latter’s departure for the NFL in 2023. He was informed of his dismissal without prior warning.

Shortly after he was relieved of his duties, Moore was arrested by police in Saline, Michigan and spent Wednesday night in Washtenaw County Jail as the suspect in an alleged assault. Pittsfield police subsequently released a statement Wednesday night saying they responded at 4.10pm to the 3000 block of Ann Arbor Saline Road ‘for the purposes of investigating an alleged assault’.

“A suspect in this case was taken into custody,” the statement continued. “This incident does not appear to be random in nature, and there appears to be no ongoing threat to the community.

“The suspect was lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail pending review of charges by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor. At this time, the investigation is ongoing. Given the nature of the allegations, the need to maintain the integrity of the investigation, and its current status at this time, we are prohibited from releasing additional details.”

Further information about the nature of the alleged assault have emerged, however, and, per Yahoo, Michigan historian and long-time author John U. Bacon appeared on Fox’s Good Day Detroit, where he shared some chilling details on Moore’s arrest.

“Bacon reports that, after Moore was fired, he broke into the home of the employee with whom he had the alleged inappropriate relationship and threatened violence against her and himself with a knife’,” the story revealed. “Bacon added that Moore had been placed in protective custody and was being monitored by mental health professionals.

Dispatcher audio released after Moore’s firing and arrest closely tracks with Bacon’s claims, and adds to reports that the coach’s behaviour had become increasingly erratic even before his termination. ESPN college football reporter Pete Thamel reported that Moore had been acting strangely in recent weeks, describing unease among staff members. Speaking on SportsCenter following Moore’s firing, Thamel said sources had told him Moore had been berating assistant coaches and behaving in ways that were out of character.

The university had, by various accounts, had suspicions regarding the alleged relationship for some time, but little in the way of substantive proof until this past week’s events. The staff member at the centre of the investigation is allegedly Paige Shiver, Moore’s executive assistant, who had been promoted to the role in mid-November. The Purdue grad had also recently received a significant salary increase, according to public record, with her pay rising from a little over $58,000 to $90,000 in the most recent fiscal year. A regular on the sidelines at Wolverines games, she and Moore had also been spotted spectating together at Michigan lacrosse games.

According to reports, tensions escalated earlier this week when Moore was advised by university officials to cease working directly with Shiver. Rather than transfer her to another role within the athletic department, Moore chose to terminate Shiver’s employment — allegedly prompting her to approach Manuel and provide what the university described as ‘detailed evidence’ of their relationship.

Moore, 39, compiled an 18–8 record over two seasons as Michigan’s head coach, including a 9–3 mark this year, having previously earned praise for leading the Wolverines to a victory while serving as acting head coach during Harbaugh’s suspension in 2023. Being fired ‘for cause’ is expected to remove the university’s liability for the remaining $14m of Moore’s $30m contract.

Associate head coach Biff Poggi has been named as interim head coach for the Wolverines’ final match of the season, when they face #13-ranked Texas in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

Moore is expected to appear in court on Friday (12th December).