Michigan has its Jim Harbaugh replacement.
The Wolverines are promoting offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, making him the school’s next head coach, Michigan announced Friday.
“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,” Moore said in a statement. “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.”
Moore’s deal is for five years and starts at $5.5 million per year, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Moore has been with Michigan’s football program since 2018, first working as the tight ends coach before working his way up to leading the offense.
The 37-year-old filled in as Michigan’s acting head coach in four games this past season, going 4-0.
He now fully takes the reins of the reigning College Football Playoff national champions after Harbaugh took the Chargers’ head coaching job earlier this week.
“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,” Michigan director of athletics Warde Manuel said in a statement Friday. “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.”
While external names like Kansas coach Lance Leipold and LSU’s Brian Kelly were reportedly in the mix, Moore was viewed as the favorite to become Harbaugh’s successor.
As the offensive coordinator this year, Michigan’s offense ranked second in the Big Ten with 35.9 points per game and fifth in total yards per contest (382.7).
He was a finalist for the Broyles Award this year, which is given to college football’s top assistant coach.
Moore notably took over as acting head coach for the team’s final three regular-season games when Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten amid the team’s sign-stealing scandal.
He gave a memorable interview with Fox following a win on the road against Penn State, the first game Harbaugh was banned after the alleged sign stealing.
celebration at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
“I want to thank Coach Harbaugh,” Moore said, with tears streaming down his face, during an on-field interview. “I f–king love you man. I love the s–t out of you, man. I did this for you.”
Moore previously coached at Louisville (2009-13), first as a graduate assistant and then as a tight ends coach, and at Central Michigan at both a tight ends coach and assistant head coach (2014-17).
