Jim Harbaugh, who took a head coaching position with the Los Angeles Chargers earlier this week, was replaced as Michigan’s new head coach by Sherrone Moore, who was introduced as such on Friday.
Moore has a five-year contract with a $500,000 base salary and an additional $5 million in compensation in the first year. In addition to receiving $500,000 per contract year if he stays on as head coach for the full year, Moore’s pay will rise by 2 percent in the ensuing years.
In addition, Moore is eligible for bonuses totaling up to $3.5 million, which includes $500,000 for winning a conference title and $1 million for taking home the national title. His buyout begins at $5 million and drops by $1 million annually until it reaches $1 million in the last year of the agreement.
This past season, Moore was the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator and, for four games, the acting head coach when Jim Harbaugh was suspended. Moore helped Michigan remain unbeaten in its pursuit of a national championship by going 4-0 in those contests, including victories over Penn State and Ohio State.
In Michigan’s football history, he is the first Black head coach to be employed on a permanent basis.
“I have been preparing my entire coaching career for this opportunity and I can’t think of a better place to be head coach than at the University of Michigan,” Moore stated in a statement. “We will do everything each day as a TEAM to continue the legacy of championship football that has been played at Michigan for the past 144 years. Our standards will not change. We will be a smart, tough, dependable, relentless, and enthusiastic championship-level team that loves football and plays with passion for the game, the winged helmet and each other.
“We will also continue to achieve excellence off the field, in the classroom and in our communities. I am excited to start working in this new role with our players, coaches and staff.”
Prior to being hired by Harbaugh, Moore had coaching positions at Louisville and Central Michigan. He was appointed tight ends coach at Michigan prior to the 2018 season. Prior to the 2021 season, when the offensive line won the Joe Moore Award as the best in college football for two consecutive seasons, he was named the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator.
Athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement, “Sherrone has proven to be a great leader for our football program, especially the offensive line and players on the offensive side of the football.” “He is a dynamic, fierce and competitive individual who gets the best out of the players he mentors. The players love playing for him and being with him in the building every day.”
Moore was a finalist for the country’s best assistant in 2023, the Broyles Award. As the head coach of the Wolverines, he will now assemble his staff. If Harbaugh tries to bring any of the current Michigan assistants to the NFL, that is yet unknown.
