The Uncovered Relationship
The fall of Sherrone Moore, who guided Michigan to a 17‑8 record over two seasons, began when athletic director Warde Manuel barred him from traveling with former staffer Paige Shiver in the fall of 2024, a decision that revealed an undisclosed relationship that dated back to January 2022.
According to Shiver, the romance was an open secret among several Michigan assistants, and it ended shortly before Moore’s dismissal in 2025; she later disclosed that she had an abortion after doctors advised her to terminate a pregnancy complicated by Pompe Disease, a fact that Moore says he knew about.
Legal Proceedings
The relationship sparked a cascade of scandals, including a felony home‑invasion charge after Moore allegedly threatened to take his own life at Shiver’s house; he ultimately accepted a plea deal that placed him on probation in April 2025.
Institutional Fallout
Warde Manuel later told investigators that he felt ‘betrayed’ by Moore, whose on‑field achievements could not offset the damage to the program’s reputation, and the university commissioned the law firm Jenner & Block to conduct a full review.
Meanwhile, former Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh helped Shiver gain admission to a hospital for postpartum depression, though he was unaware of the medical context behind her visit.
The episode has prompted renewed scrutiny of the athletic department’s oversight, with observers expecting reforms in how personal conduct and staff relationships are monitored moving forward.