ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A judge has approved a hearing to further investigate circumstances leading to charges against former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore. Moore, who was arrested shortly after his dismissal due to his relationship with an executive assistant, faces felony charges including home invasion, stalking, and illegal entry. The upcoming hearing is seen as a procedural win for Moore and his attorney, Ellen Michaels, who are seeking dismissal of the case.
The charges stem from an incident on December 10 when Moore allegedly entered the executive assistant’s apartment without permission and threatened self-harm, reportedly blaming her for the loss of his coaching position. Prosecutors cite that the woman had informed university officials about their relationship.
At a hearing on February 18, Judge J. Cedric Simpson voiced concerns about the initial police investigation, particularly the failure of a detective to disclose Moore’s employment connection to the woman during the magistrate’s warrant authorization. Simpson described this omission as significant and stated, “Defendant’s due process may have been violated. This was not solely this personal relationship. The magistrate should have been able to look at that.” The judge scheduled a hearing for March 2 to hear testimony from law enforcement and other witnesses.
According to police reports, the woman ended the relationship shortly before Moore’s termination and ignored multiple calls and texts from Moore. Michaels defended Moore’s communications, arguing that frequent contact while preparing for a bowl game was reasonable and does not constitute stalking, claiming, “It’s not stalking if the communication has a legitimate purpose.”
Before the hearing was set, Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski argued that an additional hearing was unnecessary and beyond judicial discretion.
Moore served as Michigan’s head coach for two seasons, taking over from Jim Harbaugh, who left to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. Currently, Kyle Whittingham, with two decades of coaching experience at Utah, has been named Michigan’s new football coach.
Michaels further alleged that the executive assistant’s personal attorney shared information with law enforcement to “villainize Mr. Moore and maximize the chances of obtaining a large settlement from the deep pockets of the University of Michigan.” The case remains pending as the March hearing approaches.
