Michigan Football: What Comes Next After Sherrone Moore Incident?

On Wednesday, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was fired for cause. The Wolverines head coach was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, with more incidents circulating as more news arrives. Moore’s abrupt firing put the Michigan program and fans into a frenzy, with many unsure what is next for the program. His firing, and the aftermath, have caused widespread opinion. And, for the program itself, the situation regarding who may become the next head coach is murkier than ever. We’ll try to break down the current timeline of events, and look at potential head coaching fits.

Michigan Football: Sherrone Moore Fired, What Comes Next?

Timeline of Events

In the afternoon on December 10, an announcement was made that Sherrone Moore had been fired. Upon the firing, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel made this statement.

“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement. “Following a university investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. This conduct constitutes a clear violation of university policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.”

Three hours after being fired, Moore was detained by police in Saline, Michigan, just outside of Ann Arbor. Moore had been accused of attacking someone and stalking someone for months in a 911 call. The former head coach now faces three criminal charges, including home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering. Moore is currently out on bond, and it has since been revealed that the victim was the aforementioned staff member, who broke off the extra-marital relationship on Monday. 

The fallout from this news has been a destabilizing blow to the program. It also creates uncertainty as the team is in a critical part of their 2026 offseason. While the human element of the case can’t be ignored, the program can’t stop in its tracks, either. So, there are a few options that Michigan could target going forward during this unsettling time.

Potential Head Coaching Candidates

Kalen DeBoer

The current Alabama head coach was once linked to the Penn State coaching search, but eventually turned the job down, sticking to Alabama. However, as he prepares his team for a road playoff game against Oklahoma, he will be the center of yet another head-coaching search, as Michigan is expected to go after DeBoer.

DeBoar spent two years at Fresno State, leading them to a 9-3 record in his second season before taking the Washington Huskies head coaching job. At Washington, DeBoer led Washington to back-to-back 11+ win seasons and a berth in the National Title game in his second season. After that, he was hired as the head coach at Alabama, where he has a 19-7 record in two seasons. DeBoer would be a fantastic hire for the Wolverines if he wants to pursue that option.

Jedd Fisch

The current Washington Huskies head coach was a part of the Michigan Football program from 2015-2016 under Jim Harbaugh. Fisch took over the Washington job after the aforementioned DeBoer left. He has done a solid job, keeping the program afloat with a 14-11 record. Before that, he was the coach at Arizona, finishing his final season with a 10-3 record. Fisch has familiarity with the Michigan program, but some may question if this is a lateral hire. 

Kenny Dillingham

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham has burst onto the scene after winning the Big 12 championship in the Sun Devils’ first year in the conference. They also had a College Football Playoff appearance where they nearly beat Texas in an overtime thriller. Dillingham has gone 22-16 during his three years at Arizona State. He has proven to be a brilliant offensive mind and a great recruiter. He would be a breath of fresh air for Michigan and a welcome leader of young men. However, he has an unwavering commitment to Arizona State and has often talked about building the program to dominate recruiting in the Southwestern United States. Yet, even though he has been committed to Arizona State, Michigan could still pry him away without promises and money to build a program at one of the biggest brands in the sport. 

PJ Fleck

PJ Fleck has been the Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach since 2017. He has gone 65-44, becoming the all-time leader in winning percentage for Minnesota football. He has led the Golden Gophers to four 8+ win seasons, including a top-10 finish in 2019, and to 6-0 bowl game records.

In nine years, Fleck has not made a bowl game twice. The first was his first season (5-7), with the second coming in the shortened season in 2020 (3-4). Fleck knows how to build a program from the ground up, having done so at Minnesota and Western Michigan before that, where he went 13-1 in his final season.

Fleck would be an outstanding hire for Michigan. He would provide stability for a program that has been the face of two major scandals since 2023, even if some fans are disappointed with the final result.

Jesse Minter

Jesse Minter was the Michigan defensive coordinator from 2022-2023 before leaving to become the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator with Jim Harbaugh. He led one of the best defenses in the country during his time at Michigan and has led two top-2 defenses in 2024 and 2025 with the Chargers. He is one of the brightest defensive minds in football and has familiarity with the Michigan football program.

However, with the Sherrone Moore firing, Michigan may want to distance themselves from members of the Harbaugh-era Wolverines and start fresh. Minter will also likely be a top candidate for many NFL head coaching jobs this offseason. Minter would be a great defensive mind for Michigan, but he may opt to stick with the NFL and try to become a head coach.

Joe Brady

Joe Brady took off in the 2019 season, elevating the LSU offense to unprecedented heights. Quarterback Joe Burrow had one of the greatest quarterback seasons in college football history, winning the Heisman. Meanwhile, wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase were both first-round picks and are two of the best wide receivers in the NFL. The LSU offense was a driving force in their undefeated national championship season, and it ranks among the best offenses in college football history.

Since that season, he has served as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator and is currently a member of the Buffalo Bills’ offensive staff. He has been the Bills’ offensive coordinator since 2023, bringing their offense to new heights. He would instantly become one of the brightest offensive minds in college football. However, Brady hasn’t been a part of the college coaching landscape since 2019. With NFL head coaching interviews likely lined up this offseason, Brady would be a top candidate for many openings. Brady could take Michigan’s offense to heights it has never seen, but he may opt to stick in the NFL.