Michigan had its man all along.
On Friday, the University of Michigan announced that they had promoted offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to head football coach. He becomes the Wolverines’ 21st head coach and the first Black man to hold the position.
The move comes just two days removed from former coach Jim Harbaugh announcing he had accepted a position with the Los Angeles Chargers. Moore joined Harbaugh’s staff in 2018 as a tight ends coach and moved to the offensive line in 2021. He served in a co-offensive coordinator role during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
In 2023, he took over the offensive coordinator role entirely and served four games as interim head coach during Harbaugh’s two separate three-game suspensions — earning wins against ranked rivals in Penn State and Ohio State.
It was reported that Harbaugh had met with the team on Friday and sang the praises of Moore, giving his support for his promotion. Moore thanked Harbaugh in the press release sent out by the Michigan athletics department.
“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.
“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. 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.”
Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel sang the praises of Moore in that same announcement.
“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.”
Moore was a finalist for the 2023 Broyles Award and has coached three players to All-American status. In his time with the Wolverines, they won three straight Big Ten titles and the national championship after three playoff tries.
Michigan is just a few weeks removed from winning its first national championship since 1997. The belief that Harbaugh had accomplished his goal in Ann Arbor and would return to the NFL shocked nobody, and the promotion of Moore was expected despite reports linking other names to the job — even before Harbaugh left.
Moore will be formally introduced as the next Michigan coach during a press conference on January 27, at 11 a.m. at the Junge Center.
