Sherrone Moore’s first year as Michigan’s head coach has taken a dreary turn. When everyone least expected it, the NCAA issued a Notice of Allegations to the University of Michigan. This notice pertains to the sign-stealing scandal that Michigan faced last season under Jim Harbaugh, which led to his suspension for the Wolverines’ final three games. 

ESPN was the first to publicize this notice from the NCAA, and Moore was listed as one of the seven coaches involved in the sign-stealing scandal. While his “shady behavior” has come to the surface, he’s also linked to another past NCAA violation that could increase his punishment. Hear it from ESPN’s senior writer.

With ESPN releasing a report of NCAA’s Notice of Allegations, HC Sherrone Moore is in a predicament. As uploaded by ESPN College Football on X on August 6, Pete Thamel joined Pat McAfee on his show to explain the situation. He said of Moore, “In the notice draft, he’s a repeat violator because of violations in the COVID era of recruiting sanctions that Michigan got… He faces, the draft says, potential suspension and perhaps a show-cause order.”

Moore was part of Jim Harbaugh’s staff that committed an offense during the COVID dead period. According to the NCAA, the violations included “impermissible tryouts and the program exceeding the number of allowed countable coaches when noncoaching staff members engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities.” While Thamel said this type of level 2 allegations may not cause huge fireworks, there is still a potential punishment waiting for Moore. 

What’s next for Sherrone Moore?

The latest legal drama resurfaced after the NCAA discovered that Moore deleted 52 text messages with Connor Stalions in October when the scandal broke out. A potential suspension is self-explanatory, but with a show-cause order, it is usually described as rendering a coach unemployable at NCAA schools. This means that Michigan will have to punish Moore by suspending or firing him, to which debates have already sprung up. 

However, if the NCAA deems the punishment inadequate, it could sanction the school. This would also make other NCAA schools wary of hiring them because they would face sanctions for doing so. Moore was signed to a five-year $27.5 million contract earlier this year, but this contract could be revoked if Michigan decides to fire him. True, he has committed a violation, but he also won them a National Championship, so is it going to be a fireable offense?