Michigan had to act swiftly when Jim Harbaugh was announced as the next head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Similar to Nick Saban, who had recently come to a similar realization about his place in college football, Harbaugh opted to return to the NFL instead of retiring.
This decision had the potential to throw the Wolverines into disarray, especially just weeks after their College Football Playoff national championship victory. To their credit, the leadership team of athletic director Warde Manuel and president Santa Ono acted promptly. Recognizing the challenges posed by the current landscape, including the influence of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), potential de-commitments, and the transfer portal, Michigan couldn’t afford to delay.
Within two days of Harbaugh’s departure, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore stepped into the role of the new head coach for the Wolverines. According to college football analyst Joel Klatt, Michigan’s quick decision to appoint Moore likely spared the program from potential difficulties.
“If this offseason has proven anything, it’s that no program, no program in the country is immune from the chaos that ensures with a coaching change,” remarked Klatt, as reported by On3. “No program. Look at Alabama. Alabama’s the case study. Nick Saban walks away and retires as the greatest in the history of our sport and immediately chaos ensued, even at Alabama. So the fact that Michigan could do this, with a guy that has been in this program and helped build this culture that just culminated in a national championship, is a must and they needed to do it quickly, which is exactly what they did, to avoid the chaos that naturally ensues in modern-day college football when you change your coach.”
Moore had already earned a reputation as an exceptional recruiter, and his stint as the acting head coach this past season showcased his potential as a great leader. Filling in for a suspended Harbaugh for four games, he remained undefeated and played a crucial role in Michigan’s successful end-of-season run, securing victories against No. 10 Penn State, Maryland, and No. 2 Ohio State.
His pivotal role in beating Ohio State in Columbus solidified his credentials for the head coaching position at Michigan. The quick decision-making by the university has provided the program with a sense of stability as it strives to meet national championship aspirations under Moore’s leadership.
