It's been four months since the Michigan Wolverines dismissed their former head coach Sherrone Moore. Months later, Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel opened up about his feelings on how it's difficult for him to deal with Moore's departure. He fights a feeling of betrayal.

Well, we know where Manuel's emotions come from. According to the reports, Moore allegedly engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a female staff member. Later on, Moore was charged with forcing his way inside the staffer's house and threatening to take his own life.

“I felt betrayed,” Manuel said in an interview with The Detroit News on April 16. “It’s the best word that I can use. I felt hurt for all the staff and the student-athletes and the university, because it’s something that I had talked about as it related to the expectations of our employees in athletics and for the university.”

The pain felt personal for Manuel. Moore joined Michigan back in 2019 as the tight ends coach. He climbed the ranks, becoming the offensive lineman coach later. But it was Manuel, who picked Moore to be the head coach after Jim Harbaugh took up the NFL job after winning the Natty in January 2024.

 “I had known Sherrone since he got here, believed in him as a leader, believed that my staff is doing things the right way, and I felt hurt, and I felt betrayed by it," said Manuel. "It was personal, but it was also, I want to emphasize [personal] for so many people that were affected by it."

Back then, the interim head coach, Biff Poggi, described the situation as "complicated" for the players. The timing also did not go in the Wolverines' favor. The Wolverines were scheduled to compete in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.

According to the court order,  Moore received 18 months' probation and a $1,000 fine for the incident.

Program Reset Underway as Michigan Wolverines Turn to New Leadership

Back in December 2025, Michigan had many options to hand over the head coaching reins. They showed interest in Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer. Within Ann Arbor itself, they had a strong candidate, their interim head coach, Poggi.

But ultimately, they went with former Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham.

“Everyone we talked to either started or ended their statements about him [Whittingham] with his character,” Manuel said. “He has also shown a commitment to creating a program rooted in toughness, physicality, discipline and respect.”

He walks into Michigan holding a 177-88 record after coaching in Utah for two decades. With Whittingham's entry, the Wolverines coaching squad underwent a huge change.

The new Michigan head coach brought in Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck and also offensive line coach Jim Harding, among others. After a 9-4 overall record in 2025, can the Wolverines flip the script, making up for the damage left by Moore's exit?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar