ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore was charged Friday with felony home invasion and stalking after prosecutors say he forced his way into the apartment of a woman he had been involved with and threatened to kill himself when she ended the relationship and reported it to the university.
Washtenaw County first assistant prosecutor Kati Rezmierski said Moore, 39, and the woman had an affair “for a number of years” before she ended it on Monday. After she stopped answering Moore’s calls and texts and disclosed the relationship to school officials, Michigan fired Moore Wednesday for an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, the university said.
Authorities allege that shortly after being dismissed, Moore entered the woman’s apartment without permission. Prosecutors say he went to a kitchen drawer, seized several butter knives and kitchen scissors, and began threatening to hurt himself while telling the woman, “I’m going to kill myself. I’m going to make you watch. My blood is on your hands. You’ve ruined my life.” Rezmierski said the woman was terrorized by the incident.
Moore was arrested Wednesday and appeared by video from jail for an arraignment, during which District Court Magistrate Odetalla Odetalla entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. He was released after posting $25,000 bond. Conditions of his release include no contact with the woman, wearing a GPS monitoring device, remaining in Michigan, abstaining from alcohol and undergoing additional mental health evaluation. Moore acknowledged the no-contact order and spoke briefly at the hearing. His next court date is Jan. 22.
Defense attorney Joe Simon said Moore was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation after his arrest and was later returned to jail. Simon said Moore will “absolutely comply” with the court-ordered evaluation and contended there is no evidence he is a threat.
Moore had signed a five-year contract last year with a base annual salary of $5.5 million. Because the university fired him for cause under the terms of that contract, it is not required to pay out the remaining years.
Moore had been Michigan’s offensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach after the program won a national title, succeeding Jim Harbaugh, who left to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. Moore’s final game as coach was Nov. 29 against Ohio State.
Michigan will play No. 14 Texas on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Biff Poggi, who served as interim coach earlier this season when Moore was suspended amid a Harbaugh-era sign-stealing investigation, will again be the interim coach. The program faces potential roster movement to the transfer portal and possible donor hesitation that could affect revenue-sharing and NIL support while a permanent replacement is sought.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the U.S. national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988, or by online chat at 988lifeline.org.