Report: Michigan Promotes Sherrone Moore To Head Coach
The Michigan Wolverines have their next head coach.
According to multiple reports, the Wolverines are promoting offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore in place of Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh, who guided Michigan to its first national championship since 1997 this past season, accepted the head coaching job with the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers early Wednesday evening.
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Moore, 37, has never been a permanent head coach but was the acting coach amid Harbaugh's two suspensions during an undefeated regular season. He went 4-0 during that span, including picking up two top-10 wins over Penn State and Ohio State during the final three games.
Moore has been on the Wolverines staff since 2018. He was promoted to co-offensive coordinator following the departure of Josh Gattis to Miami in 2021. During that span, Moore helped Michigan develop offensive lines to new heights in the Big Ten, winning the Joe Moore Award in both 2021 and 2022.
The Wolverines also won three Big Ten titles under his development and made the College Football Playoff three consecutive seasons.
Michigan ranked inside the top 15 of scoring offenses each of the past three seasons under Moore’s play-calling. The Wolverines dominated the run game behind consistent play from Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, often leading to the offense having a "nitty-gritty" persona around it.
Corum, who became Michigan's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, posted back-to-back 1,200-plus rushing yard campaigns. Edwards, who will return as the lead running in 2024, averaged at least 4.2 yards per run over the previous two years.
Michigan's search wasn't expected to be lengthy amid the timing of Harbaugh's departure. The nine-year veteran coach had flirted with the idea of returning to the NFL the past two offseasons, even meeting with the Minnesota Vikings in person on National Signing Day for their head coaching vacancy.
Other names that were considered to be in the running included LSU's Brian Kelly, Nebraska's Matt Rhule, Kansas' Lance Leipold and Iowa State's Matt Campbell.
Ohio State, who finished the 2023 season 11-2, has been at the mercy of Harbaugh over the past three seasons. After losing the first five contests, Harbaugh has bested the Buckeyes back-to-back-to-back years, leading to three eventual conference titles, and marking the largest win streak for Michigan over Ohio State since 1995-97.
Moore will open the season with the Wolverines against Fresno State on Aug. 31. The Buckeyes kick off the 2024 campaign at Ohio Stadium against Akron.
