$95 Million College Football Coach Floated as Candidate to Replace Sherrone Moore at Michigan

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In what can only be considered the biggest surprise of the college football coaching carousel, the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines (9-3) fired second-year head coach Sherrone Moore on Wednesday.

As revealed in a statement by the program’s athletic director, Warde Manuel, Moore was caught having an inappropriate relationship with a staffer.

“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” read the 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.”

Although Michigan is one of college football’s blueblood programs, Moore’s firing comes after the majority of the top candidates, such as Lane Kiffin (LSU), Matt Campbell (Penn State), Bob Chesney (UCLA) and James Franklin (Virginia Tech), all signed on with other programs.

With the transfer portal opening on Jan. 2, On3’s Pete Nakos revealed that the program is confident it will have a replacement by then and also provided a handful of massive names who could take over, including former LSU coach Brian Kelly.

Kelly signed a 10-year contract worth $95 million in 2021 to leave Notre Dame for LSU, but he lasted just four seasons in Baton Rouge. He was fired by the program after the team’s 5-3 start to the season, but is still one of the most successful coaches in the sport.

“The former Notre Dame head coach was fired at LSU in October,” wrote Nakos. “But that won’t stop Michigan from taking a look at Brian Kelly, who will be one of the top available coaches this cycle. He is 297–109–2 as a head coach and brought the Fighting Irish back to national relevance. Kelly found success at Central Michigan and Cincinnati, and he brought Notre Dame to a BCS national title game.”

While much of his struggles at LSU came down to not being a cultural fit, Michigan seems to be right up his alley. He’d also get a chance at coaching freshman phenom quarterback, Bryce Underwood, who was at one point committed to play for Kelly and LSU.

For Michigan’s Dec. 31 Citrus Bowl game against No. 13 Texas, Biff Poggi will serve as the interim.

Related: Sherrone Moore’s Wife is Trending After Michigan Fires Head Coach

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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