Sherrone Moore is Michigan’s Man. While the process of Jim Harbaugh going back to the NFL ultimately took several years and interviews with different teams, Michigan’s hiring of his replacement only took a matter of days.
On Wednesday, Harbaugh agreed to become the new head coach of the Los Angeles Charters. Today, Michigan announced the hiring of Moore, the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator and Harbaugh’s preferred candidate.
Sherrone Moore Makes Sense For Michigan
Sherrone Moore makes all the sense in the world for Michigan to be their new head coach. Rising through the ranks, Moore spent six seasons on the Wolverines’ staff, transitioning from tight ends coach (2018-2020) to offensive line coach (2021-2022), where he oversaw the nation’s best O-Line (Joe Moore Award winners in both years). Adding offensive coordinator duties in 2023, Moore was behind one of the nation’s top offenses. Last season, the Wolverines finished 14th nationally in scoring, had 12 games with 30+ points, and completed an undefeated season.
Moore also served as Michigan’s head coach for four games in the 2023 season. Harbaugh was suspended for the first three games. In one of those games – a 35-7 win over UNLV – Moore served as the head coach. Then, for Harbaugh’s second three-game suspension of the season, Moore was the head coach and oversaw wins over Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State – the team’s most important stretch of the season.
It would appear that Sherrone Moore has the backing of the Wolverine roster as well. Zak Zinter, a staple on Michigan’s offensive line, posted about his support of Moore on X. Even though Zinter will be headed for the NFL Draft this offseason, as one of the team leaders and best players in 2023, he has as much of a pulse on the team as anyone.
Moore will have his work cut out for him next season. For starters, being the defending National Champions, Michigan will have a massive target on its back. The Wolverines also still await potential punishment for their sign-stealing scandal from last season. While the Big Ten handed down its punishment in the form of Harbaugh’s three-game suspension, the NCAA has yet to make a ruling. If the NCAA does decide to punish UM, loss of scholarships and vacated wins is not out of the question.
In addition to potential sanctions,🍸 the . Michigan caught some flak for their light schedule in 2023, but no one can accuse them of that in 2024. The Wolverines will host Texas, USC, and Oregon and have to go on the road to face Washington and Ohio State. The one thing their schedule has going for them, the Wolverines will play eight of their twelve games in Ann Arbor.
Moore will also have some reloading to do in terms of his roster. The National Championship squad will see a lot of talent head out the door and to the NFL. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, receivers Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson, and six offensive linemen with starting experience are all out the door. Defensively, the Wolverines look like they’ll be without at least seven starters from last year’s unit.
In addition to some roster departures, Moore will likely have some staff replacements to make. Jim Harbaugh is expected to bring Wolverines’ defensive coordinator Jesse Minter with him to the Chargers for the same role, as well as special teams coordinator (and his son) Jay Harbaugh.
Moore always seemed like the hire when the Harbaugh & NFL rumors fired back up again, and he feels like the right choice at the right time. He knows the program; he’s guided the team through a lot of adversity – even if some of it was self-inflicted. Also, given the timing of Harbaugh’s departure, even if Michigan were to open up its coaching search, many of the top candidates they would hope to lure have either left for new jobs or signed extensions to remain with their current schools.
