Many believed that Michigan football head coach Sherrone Moore had signed a contract when he took on the role last winter. However, it was recently revealed that Moore began this season without a formal contract. Once this became public, he and the university quickly addressed the issue, finalizing his contract. There’s a notable clause in the contract related to the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan’s alleged sign-stealing activities.
Michigan football was investigated by the NCAA last year for illegal sign-stealing, and the team has since received a Notice of Allegations (NOA). Moore might face consequences as part of this investigation, but according to his contract, he cannot be fired for this reason based on what the university currently knows.
According to a report by USA Today, “The University of Michigan and football head coach Sherrone Moore have agreed to a contract under which the university appears to have agreed not to fire Moore for cause based on its current knowledge of Moore’s involvement in the alleged sign-stealing scandal centering on former football staff member Connor Stalions.”
The phrase “current knowledge” is key here, suggesting that if new information surfaces, the situation could change. The contract specifies:
“Notwithstanding the foregoing, a violation of the Governing Rules which occurred prior to the Effective Date, to the extent the University had actual knowledge of the facts or alleged facts that are the basis for the violation prior to the execution of this Agreement by all parties, shall not be deemed a basis for termination with cause…”
While Moore may face penalties, especially after reports that he deleted text messages with Stalions, which were later recovered, it’s unclear what the content of those messages was. The Michigan football program has a few more months to respond to the NOA, and its full details remain unknown.
