In a matter of hours, Sherrone Moore went from the head coach at one of the most storied football programs in the country to spending the night in jail after he was fired over an alleged inappropriate relationship with a university staffer.
The former University of Michigan football coach was taken into custody on Wednesday, December 10, shortly before news broke of his firing. Police found him after arriving at the home of the staffer in question to investigate an alleged assault.
Given the circumstances around Moore’s dismissal, athletic director Warde Manuel announced that the coach had been fired “for cause.”
“Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member,” he added in a statement. “This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.”
What Was Sherrone Moore’s Salary at Michigan?
Moore’s contract at Michigan was structured in a way that is typical for college coaches. While his salary is listed at only $510,000, according to USA Today’s college football salary database, the bulk of his pay comes from “additional compensation,” which, for him, is worth $5.1 million in 2025.
The additional compensation typically comes from a coach’s off-field responsibilities. That often means doing a set number of public appearances, hosting a local radio show, participating in youth clinics and more.
What Does Firing Sherrone Moore ‘For Cause’ Mean for Michigan?
Coach’s contracts have buyouts so that if he or she is fired for poor performance on the field, they receive a payment — typically a percentage of the salary remaining on their deal. Those buyouts, however, are only triggered if the coach is fired without cause. For coaches, that usually means if they are fired for losing too many games.
Moore’s contract specifically states he could be fired for cause for “conduct by the Head Coach which offends against public decency or morality” resulting in “material injury to the reputation, interests or obligations of the University or the Program,” according to MLive.com.
What Was Sherrone Moore’s Buyout?
As of December 2025, Moore’s buyout stood at $13.9 million, according to USA Today. He will have the right to contest Michigan’s decision to fire him for cause in hopes of recovering some or all of that money, but if he is unsuccessful, he will not see any of it.
What Else Did Sherrone Moore Lose After Being Fired?
In addition to potentially not receiving a buyout, Moore will have to forfeit the $500,000 retention bonus he would have received if he was still employed through January 31, 2026 — and additional retention bonuses during the contract’s subsequent seasons.
His salary was also set to rise to $6.2 million in 2026 with a 2 percent increase each of the following two seasons.
And that’s only his guaranteed money. Moore could have also collected potentially millions more in bonuses, which usually includes incentives for his players’ academic performance, wins on the field and individual coach honors.
