Michigan HC Sherrone Moore focused on culture, finding the best fits in recruiting
Michigan reached the top of the mountain last season, winning the College Football Playoff National Championship, finishing with a perfect 15-0 record.
Since then, the Wolverines have undergone a slew of changes on the coaching staff, headlined by the departure of Jim Harbaugh, who was replaced by new head coach Sherrone Moore. Despite having won the Big Ten title three years in a row, Michigan was tabbed to finish No. 4 in the stacked conference in Cleveland.com’s 2024 Big Ten media poll earlier this week.
One of many internal hires made, Moore taking over at the helm signifies a new era of football in Ann Arbor. New coordinators and assistants are taking on new roles, but the goal for the Maize and Blue remains the same: win another title.
“The chance, the opportunity to go lead their rooms and lead their positions is something super exciting,” Moore said of the internal hires. “All the guys that are there, that have been there, have been a part of the culture, been a part of what we’ve done and know how to do it so we’re excited for them.”
Finding the right fit is top priority for Moore on the trail
Michigan inked the No. 15 recruiting class in the nation last cycle, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The Wolverines currently posses 16 commitments and the No. 13 class in the 2025 cycle, headlined by a trio of top-100 prospects.
What excites Moore the most about his current crop of pledges? They all fit the mold that has helped carry U-M to new heights and the culture that has been instilled in the program and isn’t going anywhere despite the changes to the staff.
“All great fits, all great people, all great families, so excited for all the guys at different positions to make an impact on our team in different ways,” he said.
Moore has long been touted as an impressive recruiter, focusing on tight ends and the offensive line. Now that he’s reached head coach status, though, his prowess on the trail expands to every position and carries weight across the entire country.
“Just recruiting everybody, recruiting not only them but their families. Being able to touch every position, be involved with it, it’s been something I’ve wanted to do,” he said. “Tried to do that when I was recruiting positions anyway, getting involved with different positions. Making sure the roster, making sure people are fits for our program is the number one thing for me.”
“Everywhere, find the best players possible. Find the best players that fit us and keep going from there.”
Michigan seeing improvement in the NIL space
No head coach can turn a blind eye to NIL anymore. The Champions Circle, one of U-M’s collectives, has continued to evolve and has even been credited with helping the Wolverines keep the core of their championship roster in Ann Arbor ahead of the 2024 season.
Moore isn’t letting the throes of dealing with NIL trump his focus of building the best roster full of fits possible. He is encouraged by where things are heading with Michigan and that space, however.
“I think we’re getting there, we’ve had to adjust and make changes and we have. I think we’re getting to a point where we’re competing with everybody,” he said. “Just the support we’re getting from the alumni, people that support us and our administration. All those things are really helping us now.”