Interim University of Michigan president Domenico Grasso said on Dec. 17, 2025, that the school will move quickly to terminate employees if a wide-ranging review of the football program and athletic department uncovers credible wrongdoing. Grasso spoke in a video update one week after the university fired head football coach Sherrone Moore on Dec. 10 for an inappropriate relationship with a staff member; Moore now faces three criminal charges, including felony third-degree home invasion for an alleged confrontation at the staff member’s residence. The university has hired Chicago law firm Jenner & Block to conduct a broader review of departmental culture, conduct and procedures, and Grasso urged anyone with relevant information to come forward. He said the administration’s focus is on locating facts and ensuring institutional integrity while preparing for the program’s next leader.
Key Takeaways
- Sherrone Moore was fired by Michigan on Dec. 10, 2025, after an investigation found an inappropriate relationship with a staff member; he faces three criminal charges including a felony home-invasion count.
- Interim president Domenico Grasso issued a public update on Dec. 17, 2025, warning that further employment terminations could follow if the Jenner & Block review produces credible evidence.
- Michigan retained Jenner & Block, a Chicago-based law firm, to examine athletics culture, conduct and procedures after a series of recent scandals involving the department.
- Grasso, who became interim president in May 2025, said the university will “act swiftly” on credible findings and requested that people with information contact Jenner & Block directly.
- Athletic director Warde Manuel (department head since 2016) is expected to oversee the coach search; Biff Poggi is interim coach for Michigan’s Dec. 31 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl matchup with Texas.
Background
Michigan’s athletic department has been under heightened scrutiny in 2025 amid multiple controversies that prompted the university to seek an external review. The immediate trigger for this phase of scrutiny was the university investigation that led to the Dec. 10 dismissal of head coach Sherrone Moore after it identified an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. The university has signaled a desire to examine not only the football program’s conduct but also the broader culture and procedures that shape staff and athlete behavior.
Interim president Domenico Grasso, who assumed the interim role in May 2025, framed the Jenner & Block engagement as a way to ensure an independent, thorough review. Jenner & Block will be asked to evaluate policies, reporting pathways and accountability mechanisms used across the athletic department. Michigan’s approach mirrors a trend in collegiate athletics toward outside investigations when institutional failures are suspected.
Main Event
The sequence began publicly on Dec. 10 when Michigan announced Moore’s firing after an internal investigation into his conduct with a staff member. The university disclosed subsequently that Moore faces three criminal charges; one count is felony third-degree home invasion related to an alleged confrontation at the staff member’s home after his termination. Those charges are part of an ongoing criminal process separate from the university’s internal and independent reviews.
On Dec. 17 Grasso released a video update describing the week since Moore’s dismissal as a challenging period for the campus and athletic community. He emphasized that any additional personnel action would be evidence-driven, saying the university will not act on rumor but will move quickly if the Jenner & Block review or other credible sources identify misconduct warranting termination. Grasso also encouraged witnesses and those with relevant information to contact the law firm directly.
The athletic department leadership remains centered on a short-term coaching arrangement and the upcoming Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 against Texas, where Biff Poggi will serve as interim head coach. Athletic director Warde Manuel, who has led Michigan athletics since 2016, is expected to oversee the permanent coach search. Grasso stressed that future hires must demonstrate high moral character and leadership consistent with the university’s standards.
Analysis & Implications
For Michigan, the Jenner & Block review raises the possibility of substantive changes to oversight, reporting and personnel practices within the athletics department. If investigators identify systemic failures, the university may alter policies, discipline staff beyond the coaching ranks, and adjust compliance mechanisms to reduce future risk. Those steps could affect recruiting, donor relations and public confidence, at least in the near term.
Legally, criminal charges against Moore proceed separately from the university investigation; any employment decisions based on the independent review will be administrative in nature and must adhere to university procedures and employment law. The presence of an outside law firm is intended to bolster the investigation’s credibility, but findings that recommend terminations could prompt legal challenges or employment appeals from affected staff.
On the competitive front, Michigan’s program faces short-term disruption around the Dec. 31 bowl game and the coach search. Prospective recruits and current players often seek stability and clear leadership, so prolonged uncertainty could influence recruiting outcomes for the 2026 cycle. Conversely, demonstrable corrective action and transparent processes could help the program recover reputation and trust over time.
Comparison & Data
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Dec. 10, 2025 | Head coach Sherrone Moore fired following university investigation |
| Dec. 17, 2025 | Interim president Grasso issues public update; Jenner & Block engaged |
| Dec. 31, 2025 | Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Texas (Biff Poggi interim coach) |
The table highlights key dates that frame Michigan’s current situation: immediate personnel action on Dec. 10, an expanded independent review announced by Dec. 17, and an imminent postseason game on Dec. 31. Those milestones demonstrate the institution’s need to balance investigatory rigor with continuing program operations.
Reactions & Quotes
“We will leave no stone unturned, and any further action we take will be based on credible evidence and findings,” Grasso said, stressing investigatory rigor and a commitment to act on substantiated information.
Domenico Grasso, Interim President, University of Michigan
“If independent investigators find credible, corroborated misconduct, prompt administrative actions such as terminations are a common institutional response,” said a university-affiliated legal analyst, noting the separation of criminal and employment processes.
Independent legal analyst
Unconfirmed
- Whether Jenner & Block’s review will identify specific additional employees whose conduct warrants termination remains unknown pending the firm’s findings.
- Details about allegations beyond the conduct attributed to Moore have not been publicly confirmed and should not be assumed without corroboration.
Bottom Line
Michigan has signaled an intent to pursue fact-based, independent review of its football program and athletic department, and interim president Domenico Grasso has warned that credible findings could lead to swift personnel actions. The engagement of Jenner & Block and Grasso’s public appeal for information reflect the university’s effort to show accountability and transparency in the face of recent scandals.
Short-term priorities include completing the independent review, managing the Dec. 31 bowl game under interim leadership, and conducting a careful head coach search led by athletic director Warde Manuel. Longer-term outcomes will hinge on the review’s recommendations and the university’s follow-through on policy, personnel and cultural reforms.