Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore finds himself in an unusual contractual situation as he embarks on his first season in the role. Despite being officially recognized as the head coach, Moore, along with several of his assistants, is currently operating without formalized contracts. Instead, they are working under a memorandum of understanding (MOU), a legal document used as a temporary agreement until a full contract can be finalized.
This peculiar arrangement was recently confirmed by Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, who addressed the situation on the “Conqur’ing Heroes” podcast. According to Manuel, the process of finalizing contracts for Moore and his staff is ongoing. “They are being worked on as we speak,” Manuel explained, as reported by Aaron McMann of *MLive*. He also mentioned that some assistant coaches have already signed contracts, but Moore and others are still waiting for their official agreements to be completed.
Manuel pointed to several factors contributing to the delay in finalizing these contracts, including transitions within both the football and basketball programs, ongoing NCAA matters, and logistical issues with the university’s apparel provider. Michigan is also bringing on a new partner, Legends, for apparel services, which has added to the administrative workload. “These things take time,” Manuel said, referencing the complexity involved in handling multiple major transitions and contracts simultaneously.
While it might seem unusual for a head coach and his staff to work without a formal contract in place, this isn’t without precedent at Michigan. In fact, in 2021, the university faced a similar situation with then-head football coach Jim Harbaugh. After agreeing on an MOU, Harbaugh and the university took nine months to finalize and sign a full contract. Moore’s current MOU reportedly outlines a five-year deal worth $30 million, a lucrative agreement that is expected to be formalized in due time.
The use of an MOU as a stopgap is not uncommon in collegiate athletics, where legal and administrative processes can sometimes take longer than anticipated. An MOU provides a level of security for both the coach and the university, ensuring that basic terms and conditions are agreed upon while the details of a long-term contract are negotiated. In Moore’s case, the MOU serves as an assurance that his position and compensation have been agreed to, even if the paperwork is not yet finalized.
Despite the somewhat strange nature of the situation, neither Moore nor Michigan seems particularly concerned. The university appears committed to finalizing the deal, and Moore, for his part, has expressed nothing but enthusiasm for his new role. The fact that he is working under an MOU rather than a full contract does not seem to have dampened his excitement or affected his approach to the job.
Moore’s promotion to head coach was met with widespread approval within the Michigan community. As a former offensive coordinator for the Wolverines, he has played a crucial role in the team’s recent success and is highly regarded both within the program and by fans. His commitment to the role and his leadership during this transitional period have been clear, and there is little doubt that the university intends to finalize his long-term deal soon.
In the meantime, Moore and his staff continue to focus on the task at hand—leading Michigan to another successful season. While the contractual details are being ironed out behind the scenes, the football program remains in capable hands, with Moore eager to prove himself as the team’s head coach.
