What it means that Michigan fired Sherrone Moore ‘for cause,’ and the contract implications
Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore for cause Wednesday for an alleged relationship with a staff member following a university investigation. While Moore’s legal and personal situation remain unclear following his detainment by police on Wednesday, the for-cause nature of his firing means his contract ends immediately, and he will not be owed any money.
Moore was nearing the end of the second year of a five-year contract that paid him around $5.6 million annually.
“This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior,” the school said in a statement.
A firing “for cause” means Michigan fired Moore for violating a clause set in his contract. According to a copy of Moore’s contract, obtained by The Athletic, one of the clauses that allows Michigan to fire Moore for cause and void his contract is misconduct as defined by the university’s standard practice guide. According to the standard practice guide, a supervisor may not initiate or attempt to initiate an intimate relationship with an employee. If such a relationship exists but was not initiated by the supervisor, it must be free of abuse of power and must be disclosed to higher-ups. Failure to disclose is cause for discipline, including dismissal. Michigan has not provided details of Moore’s relationship, only to say there was one and that it was “inappropriate.”
A source briefed on the decision told The Athletic’s Austin Meek that the school received an anonymous tip regarding the inappropriate relationship, prompting the investigation. The investigation initially did not produce evidence of the relationship, the source said, but additional evidence came to light in the 24 hours leading up to Moore’s dismissal.
The Athletic has requested a copy of any termination letter that would have informed Moore of his dismissal. Moore’s agent has not responded to requests for comment.
Several college football coaches have been fired for cause in recent years, often leading to legal challenges. Former Michigan State coach Mel Tucker was fired in 2023 amid sexual harassment allegations against him by sexual violence activist Brenda Tracy, who was working with the MSU program.
In firing Tucker for cause and voiding his 10-year, $95 million guaranteed contract, Michigan State in its termination letter cited Tucker’s actions violating a clause in his contract around “moral turpitude, or which, in the university’s reasonable judgment, would tend to bring public disrespect, contempt or ridicule.”
Tucker sued Michigan State in 2024 for wrongful termination, but there has been no update in that case since February.
Northwestern fired coach Pat Fitzgerald for cause in 2023 amid an investigation into hazing in the football program. The school had originally decided to only suspend Fitzgerald, before reversing the decision and firing him for cause amid public backlash. Fitzgerald sued for wrongful termination on grounds that the school had agreed on the suspension and had not found that Fitzgerald knew of the hazing. In August, Fitzgerald and Northwestern announced a settlement, and the school stated that no hazing had been reported to Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is now the coach at Michigan State.
Tennessee fired Jeremy Pruitt for cause in 2021 to negate his $12.6 million buyout, but that came after an internal investigation into NCAA violations. Pruitt and a lawyer threatened a lawsuit against Tennessee, but one never came. Pruitt did sue the NCAA earlier this year, alleging it conspired with Tennessee to get him fired. The case remains ongoing.
In 2012, Arkansas fired Bobby Petrino for cause by Arkansas for having a relationship with a subordinate, showing favoritism in hiring her and lying to his bosses about it. That relationship came to light following a motorcycle crash with her and the attempt to cover that up. Petrino returned to Arkansas in 2024 as offensive coordinator and served as interim head coach for seven games this year.
Most recently, LSU informed Brian Kelly it may fire him for cause after having already announced his dismissal. Kelly filed a legal challenge against the school, which then backed down and informed Kelly he was fired without cause and would be paid his buyout, worth as much as $53 million.
