Michigan officially hires Sherrone Moore as 21st head coach

Michigan Wolverines football has its 21st head coach: Sherrone Moore. The 37-year-old was an assistant under head coach Jim Harbaugh, now the head man of the Los Angeles Chargers, for six years. He served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach before the promotion.

“I want to thank Coach Harbaugh for the faith that he has displayed in me over the past six years and for supporting my growth as a football coach during that time,” said Moore. “Thanks to Athletic Director Warde Manuel for putting his faith and trust in me to be the next leader of this football program. I also want to thank President Santa Ono and members of the Board of Regents for believing in me as well. I am excited to reward that belief and trust as the program’s next leader.

“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,” added Moore. “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.”

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,” said Manuel. “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.

“Sherrone stepped up this fall and served as the interim head coach when the program and especially the team needed him,” added Manuel. “Sherrone handled that situation in a way that sealed my already-growing confidence in him. He didn’t make it about him, it was always about the team! We are thrilled to have Sherrone and his wife, Kelli, and the entire Moore family step into this new role for our football program and university community.”

Moore was Michigan’s tight ends coach from 2018-20, before coaching offensive line the last three seasons. Also in 2021, he earned co-offensive coordinator duties, a title he held for two seasons, before becoming the sole offensive coordinator in 2023, helping lead the Maize and Blue to the national championship.

Moore served as the team’s interim head coach for four games during the 2023 national championship season. He led the team to a 31-6 victory over Bowling Green (Sept. 16) in his first action as a head coach. Later in the season, Moore served as the Wolverines’ interim head coach again, winning two road games at Penn State and Maryland and the season finale against Ohio State to claim the Big Ten East Division Championship. Two of those late season victories came against top 10 teams, defeating the ninth-ranked Nittany Lions (24-15) and second-ranked Buckeyes (30-24).

Moore was a finalist for the 2023 Broyles Award, which is given annually to the nation’s outstanding assistant coach. As Michigan’s offensive coordinator in 2023, Moore directed a unit that ranked top 10 in seven offensive categories and was top 30 in 10 overall metrics. The Wolverines were 14th nationally in scoring offense (35.9 avg.), eighth in pass efficiency (165.77 rating), fourth in fewest tackles for loss allowed (3.2 avg.), third in completion percentage (72.0%) and tied for the NCAA lead with 40 rushing touchdowns. U-M prioritized ball security and delivered with the third fewest turnovers in college football (8), including the fifth fewest interceptions (5) and 10th fewest fumbles (3).

Moore joined the Michigan coaching staff after four seasons at Central Michigan (2014-17). He mentored the Chippewas tight ends during his time with the program and added the duties of assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2017 season.

Prior to his time in Mt. Pleasant, Moore spent five seasons at the University of Louisville, where he was a graduate assistant coach for three seasons (2009-11) and the program’s tight ends coach for two seasons (2012-13). As a full-time coach, the Cardinals had a 23-3 record with a BCS bowl appearance and a Big East Championship in 2012.

Moore played two seasons along the offensive line for the University of Oklahoma (2006-07). He saw action in 14 games at offensive guard and helped the Sooners win two Big 12 Championships and play in two BCS bowl games. Before joining the Sooners, Moore was a two-year starter at Butler County (Kansas) Community College. He was a member of two conference championship teams that posted a 20-3 record. Moore earned second-team all-conference accolades.

Moore earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Oklahoma in 2008. 

He and his wife, Kelli, who were married in 2015, are the parents of two daughters: Shiloh and Solei.