Sherrone Moore reveals his reaction to getting Michigan job, how he will follow Jim Harbaugh

New Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore addressed fans and media for the first time in his new role during Saturday’s introductory press conference.

After delivering his opening statement for the first several minutes, Moore was asked right off the bat what his immediate reaction was when Warde Manuel and UM brass officially let him know that he was the pick for the job.

“Speechless happy, excited, anxious. Many things went through my head,” Moore answered before emphasizing that he’s ready to get right to work.

“But all I know is I want to get to work to continue what we’ve done because I’ve seen the path and what it’s taken to get there, and it’s been a path of work, a path of grinding, and I just want to make sure I continue to do that.”

A little bit later on in the press conference, one reporter asked Moore how he’ll handle following Jim Harbaugh and his “aura.” The new Wolverine head coach explained that he won’t try to mimic Harbaugh nor compromise on his own vision for the program.

“Yeah, I’m just gonna be me. I can’t be Coach (Harbaugh). I love Coach (Harbaugh), he loves this university. You know, I’ve watched him coach for the last six years. But I can’t be Jim Harbaugh, so I’m going to be me,” said Moore. He really believes in sticking to who he is over trying to be someone he isn’t.

“I think — in this business, and in any world — if you’re not yourself, then you’re going to lose the people around you. So I’m definitely going to be myself, be who I am, my leadership styles, how I approach things.”

Of course, Sherrone Moore won’t completely abandon the old ways of the program and says he will certainly use guidance from Harbaugh to help mold Michigan into his own.

“I’m definitely going to lean on him tremendously, because, obviously, what we’ve built here” he added. “But I’m definitely going to be myself.”

Jim Harbaugh is still welcome back anytime, though, as Warde Manuel said he and Coach Moore would like to invite the new Charger coach back to serve as honorary captain for a game next season.

“If the timing is right, Sherrone and I would like to have him come back as the captain of a game this year, if the byes work out, and as he says, ‘Take a long and slow bow, in front of all the fans,’ so thanks to Jim.”

As Moore said, though, Harbaugh will be returning to see at least a slightly different program than the one he ran for so many years.