Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore gets right to work: Inside his first team meeting, No. 1 priority
New Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore made it clear at his introductory press conference Saturday morning: His No. 1 priority in his new position after being promoted from offensive coordinator and line coach is to take care of the players.
Moore officially took over for Jim Harbaugh, Michigan’s head man for nine seasons, Friday night. He immediately got to work on attempting to retain his roster, many of which helped the Wolverines win the 2023 national championship just weeks earlier. Solidifying his assistant coaching staff is also near the top of the list of priorities.
“It will always — always — be about the players,” Moore said of his mission at Michigan. “We will do everything in this program to put the players in position to win on and off the field. I’m excited to start in this new role with our players and coaching staff.
“First thing is going to be, I met with the players this morning, and then making sure we’re putting together a staff for our players, and talking to recruits. There are a multitude of things, but I want to start with our players right here, our staff here, and then take it from there.”
That includes communicating an NIL plan, Moore added, key to player retention in today’s college football.
Make no mistake, relationships are important, too. Moore went out of his way as tight ends coach (2018-20) and offensive line / offensive coordinator (2021-23) to build connections with players across all different positions and on each side of the football. That will pay off now that he’s in charge of the entire Michigan program.
Moore showed a couple different things later Saturday, appearing at the Michigan vs. Iowa basketball game. First, he brought the players onto the floor and allowed senior running back Donovan Edwards to join him in addressing the crowd. And two, sitting front row with a bunch of different standouts was an outward sign of how important they are to him. He’s keeping them close.
Among the players who accompanied Moore at the basketball game: Edwards, junior cornerback Will Johnson, junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, junior defensive tackle Mason Graham, junior tight end Colston Loveland, senior safety Rod Moore, graduate safety Makari Paige, senior center Greg Crippen, graduate running back Kalel Mullings. Recruiting and support staffers also attended the game.
“I’m humbled and honored to represent this great university as your head football coach,” Moore said to the crowd. “I want to thank, first off, Coach Harbaugh. Love you. [University of Michigan] President [Santa] Ono, appreciate you, thank you, love you. [Athletic director] Warde Manuel and the regents.
“We wouldn’t be in this position without these guys — the players. They’re the reason why we’re here and why we’ll continue to stay and keep this thing rolling. Thank you fans for all your support and making The Big House the loudest place in the country to play. And let’s continue that this year. We’ve got eight games. We need that thing packed, loud as you can be so we can smash everybody, every game.”
Edwards also implored fans to show out at Michigan Stadium this coming fall. The Wolverines have quite the home schedule, with marquee tilts against Texas (Sept. 7), USC (Sept. 21), Michigan State (Oct. 26) and Oregon (Nov. 2).
Moore is not just hoping that his talented players are still on the team for those matchups. He’s working to ensure that happens.
He also let the players know in the aforementioned Saturday morning meeting at the Michigan weight room — the center of the program’s player development — that he only wants those who are willing to work to stick around for the next chapter.
“Don’t wait until the summer. Don’t wait until you think it’s your time. It is your time!” Moore said during the team meeting. “Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, walk-ons, starter, non-starter — it’s your time.
“And if you don’t believe it’s your time, this is not the place for you. If you don’t want to be held to a high standard, this is not the place for you. If you don’t want to win championships, this is not the place for you. If you don’t want to work hard, this is not the place for you.
“This is so fitting that this is where we have the first team meeting, because this is where it all starts.”
Michigan has a lot to replace from last season’s team, including its head coach and the bulk of its starters on offense, but Moore is using talk of a drop-off as fuel and encouraging his players to do the same.
“I’m tired of hearing, ‘We lost these guys, we lost these guys.’ I don’t think they understand what this team is, what this team is about. We’re not about one player. We’re not about one coach! We’re about everybody.
“I love you guys with all my heart, and like I told the linemen, a lot of days you’re going to love me, a lot of days you’re going to hate me. I don’t really care. I want you to respect me because I want you to understand that I’m doing this for you guys as players, as people. Seeing what it takes now — we’ve seen as a unit, as a team, what it takes to get there. Is it easy, guys that’ve been here? No. Do it!
“Think about the confetti running down. Think about the happiness, the joy, putting on the t shirt, putting on the hats, what it took to get to where we need to.”
The 37-year-old intends to get Michigan back to the same spot in the future.
“We’re not satisfied with victories of the past; we’re hungry for future success,” Moore said at his press conference. “We’re going to attack every day as we walk into the building as if it’s the Monday of the national title game.”
The key is the process that’s already underway, with spring ball on the horizon.
