Full Breakdown
Former Michigan Coach’s Relationship with Assistant Sparks Termination, Criminal Case and Calls for Athletic-Department Reform
4/25/2026, 8:27:19 AM
The Relationship, Pregnancy and Abortion
Paige Shiver, a former executive assistant to former head football coach Sherrone Moore, disclosed on ABC’s *Good Morning America* that their consensual relationship began in January 2022 while she was an intern and he was an offensive coordinator. The affair continued after Moore’s promotion to head coach in 2024, during which Shiver became pregnant in May 2022. Because Shiver has Pompe disease—a rare genetic disorder that can cause severe muscle weakness and cardiac complications—multiple physicians advised that continuing the pregnancy would endanger her health. She elected to terminate the pregnancy in July 2022. Shiver recounted Moore’s response: “You have to do what’s right for your body.”
University Response and Investigation
The University of Michigan learned of the undisclosed workplace relationship on December 10 2025, when Shiver reported it to senior officials. Athletic director Warde Manuel terminated Moore “with cause” the same day, citing a clear violation of university policy. The university’s public statement, issued by Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Paul Corliss, emphasized that the conduct “violated university policy” and that the institution “expects more from its leaders.”
Following the termination, the university launched a multi-month investigation into the athletic department’s oversight. The probe, which cost over $9.5 million, expanded beyond the Moore–Shiver affair to examine other recent scandals. Faculty Senate President David Peterson criticized the reliance on outside counsel, noting, “It’s a bit embarrassing we keep hiring external lawyers.” The Senate subsequently called for greater authority for the Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office and for stricter NCAA and Title IX compliance.
Criminal Proceedings
Within an hour of his dismissal, Moore entered Shiver’s Ann Arbor apartment, threatened self-harm with butter knives, and was arrested on charges of third-degree felony home invasion, stalking and breaking-and-entering. In March 2026 he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts—malicious use of a telecommunications device in a domestic context and trespassing. A plea agreement dismissed the felony and stalking charges. On April 14 2026 a judge sentenced Moore to 18 months of probation, a $1,000 fine and a no-contact order with Shiver; no jail time was imposed.
Official Statements & Responses
- The university reiterated its commitment to a “professional and respectful workplace” for all community members.
- Moore’s attorney Ellen Michaels stated that “Sherrone Moore has closed this chapter.”
- Shiver’s lawyers, Andrew M. Stroth and Steven A. Hart, described the athletic department’s environment as a “systemic failure” that created a “hostile, male-dominated” culture.
Criticism & Opposition
Faculty Senate members and Shiver’s attorneys argue that the department’s internal policies failed to prevent or address the power imbalance. They urge the Board of Regents and interim president Domenico Grasso to enforce stronger Title IX safeguards and to restructure oversight mechanisms.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact charges initially filed against Moore (some list a felony home-invasion charge, others emphasize misdemeanor trespassing) and on the timeline of the university’s internal inquiry, which began after the December 2025 report but was publicly disclosed only later.
Verbatim Quotes
- “[He] had complete control over me, over my emotions, over my career, and he knew that, and he used it against me,” — Paige Shiver
- “You have to do what's right for your body.” — Sherrone Moore (as reported by Shiver)
- “ U of M Statement Here is a statement the university provided to Local 4 on April 24: “The University of Michigan terminated Sherrone Moore promptly upon discovering his undisclosed workplace relationship with a direct report.” — Paul Corliss
- “systemic failure to comply with basic policies and procedures created and enabled a hostile and male dominated environment at Schembechler Hall that traumatized Ms. Shiver.” — Andrew M. Stroth
- “I think he should have gotten more punishment for what he did.” — Paige Shiver
What’s Next
Moore’s probation will be reviewed in October 2027. The Faculty Senate plans to advance a resolution granting the Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office expanded investigative powers and to push the Board of Regents for a comprehensive Title IX audit of the athletic department.
