The sudden announcement that the University of Michigan had fired head coach Sherrone Moore came as a shock to the college football world, but to his colleagues, it may have been less of a surprise.

“Talking with a handful of Michigan athletics employees from a variety of different departments over the past several days, Moore’s firing because of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member was not a surprise,” Andrew Kahn of MLive wrote in a story published on Monday, December 15.

He continued, “One staffer told me they saw the tweet announcing Moore’s firing, minutes before the school sent the official release that listed the reason, and they immediately assumed it was because Moore had been sleeping with a particular colleague.”

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel disclosed in a press release about Moore’s firing that the head coach engaged in an “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member.

How Players and Staff Found Out About Sherrone Moore's Alleged Relationship

“This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior,” said Manuel, 57.

“I have been in close communication with the Board of Regents and we are united in committing to doing what is right,” University of Michigan president Domenico Grasso added in a statement the next day. “This breach of trust by Coach Moore is painful for many in our community, first and foremost, the individuals directly involved in this situation.”

It was at least the second time their relationship had come under scrutiny, according to Michigan insider John U. Bacon.

Bacon appeared on Good Morning Detroit on Thursday, December 11, where he reported both Moore and the staffer had previously denied any inappropriate relationship at staff member then allegedly changed her story, presenting Michigan with “the text messages, the emails, documents and so on, laying out the details of their relationship and the conflicts thereof.”

Michigan’s Sherrone Moore 'Grabbed a Knife,' Threatened Staffer: Report

That same day, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported there had been “lots of whispers and speculations about various gossipy, salacious items” around the Michigan football program.

Moore has been married to his wife Kelli since 2015 and the couple shares three daughters.

While there may have been talk about Moore and the staffer’s relationship internally, Kahn also spoke to his friends and former teammates, who seemed to be taken by surprise.

“He was always the guy that talked teammates out of trouble,” one said. “I’m beyond shocked.”

“Shocked,” another friend added.

Details About Sherrone Moore's Relationship With Staff Member Revealed

Shortly before Michigan announced it had fired Moore, the coach was arrested near the staffer’s residence, which he is accused of breaking into and threatening to kill himself in front of her. He fled when she called the police, whom she told that Moore had been stalking her.

“The totality of the behavior is highly threatening and highly intimidating,” Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kati Rezmierski said during his arraignment on Friday, December 12. “She was terrorized.”

Moore has been charged with one count of third-degree felony home invasion, one count misdemeanor stalking related to a domestic relationship and one count misdemeanor breaking and entering. He faces up to six years, three months in prison and $3,500 in fines if found guilty on all counts.

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