Michigan elevates Sherrone Moore to the position of head coach.
The Michigan Wolverines have named their next head coach.
Reports indicate that the Wolverines have promoted offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to replace Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh, who guided Michigan to its first national championship since 1997 this past season, accepted the head coaching position with the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday evening.
During an undefeated regular season, Moore, 37, served as the acting coach in place of Harbaugh during two suspensions. He led the team to a 4-0 record during that time, securing two top-10 wins over Penn State and Ohio State in the final three games.
Moore has been a part of the Wolverines staff since 2018 and was elevated to co-offensive coordinator after Josh Gattis departed for Miami in 2021. During his tenure, Moore played a key role in elevating Michigan’s offensive lines to prominence in the Big Ten, with the team winning the Joe Moore Award in both 2021 and 2022. Under his guidance, the Wolverines claimed three Big Ten titles and made the College Football Playoff for three consecutive seasons.
Michigan’s scoring offense ranked in the top 15 nationally in each of the past three seasons under Moore’s direction. The team’s ground game, led by Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, has been a particular strength, giving the offense a gritty identity.
Corum, who became Michigan’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, recorded back-to-back seasons with over 1,200 rushing yards. Edwards, set to lead the running game in 2024, averaged at least 4.2 yards per carry over the past two years.
Michigan’s coaching search was relatively brief following Harbaugh’s departure. The veteran coach had entertained the possibility of returning to the NFL over the past two offseasons, even meeting with the Minnesota Vikings in person on National Signing Day to discuss their head coaching vacancy.
Other candidates considered for the job included Brian Kelly from LSU, Matt Rhule from Nebraska, Lance Leipold from Kansas, and Matt Campbell from Iowa State.
Ohio State, which concluded the 2023 season with an 11-2 record, has faced challenges from Harbaugh’s Michigan over the past three seasons. After losing the initial five matchups, Harbaugh led Michigan to victories in three consecutive years, resulting in three conference titles and the longest win streak over Ohio State since 1995-97.
Moore will begin his tenure as head coach when Michigan faces Fresno State on Aug. 31. The Buckeyes will kick off their 2024 season at Ohio Stadium against Akron.
