Former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore avoided jail time as he was sentenced to 18-month probation Tuesday on charges connected to the angry confrontation he had with a staffer with whom he once had an extramarital affair.
Washtenaw County District Court Judge J. Cedric Simpson said he was moved by the support of Kelli Moore, the former coach's wife.
"In my opinion, the person, quite frankly Mr. Moore, that is saving you from the full wrath of this court is the one you betrayed," Simpson told Moore, with his wife seated nearby in the front row. "I don't know where your wife Kelli finds her strength."
Last month, Moore, 40, pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors, malicious use of a telecommunications device in the context of a domestic relationship and trespassing.
He got 18 months of probation for each count, which will be served concurrently, according to defense attorney Ellen Michaels.
Prosecutors dropped charges for felony home invasion, misdemeanor stalking, and misdemeanor breaking and entering.
Those charges were properly removed because there was evidence that Moore had been given a security code to enter the home of former staffer Paige Shiver, and that she had called the coach during the alleged tirades, according to Simpson.
"The right thing happened," Simpson said. "The charges, the criminal charges that this defendant, Mr. Moore, would have been guilty of, he pled to. No more, no less."
Moore showed no emotion as he was being sentenced in an Ann Arbor courtroom that's about four miles east of Michigan Stadium, where the Wolverines play in one the nation's biggest and most famous college football facilities in America.
Sherrone and Kelli Moore left the courthouse holding hands but did not answer any questions from reporters.
"Sherrone is grateful for this matter to be resolved and he and his wife Kelli are ready to move forward with their family and focus on the next chapter," Michaels told reporters outside the courthouse.
Moore read a brief statement in court, saying he is leaning on his wife and his faith.
"First of all, I want to thank my lord and savior, Jesus Christ, for his grace and guidance during this difficult time" he said. "I want to thank my beautiful wife Kelli for her support, her strength and standing by me."
The prosecution did not advocate, one way or another, for Moore to get jail time.
The judge ordered Moore to stay off alcohol, marijuana and to continue mental health treatment. Moore was also told to avoid any contact with Shiver, who was not in court on Tuesday.
"I don't have anything to say in terms of what we want you to impose," prosecutor Kati Rezmierski told the court.
"I do, however, feel that I would be remiss in my duty if I did not underscore for the court and for the record that there was a young woman that was deeply impacted by the defendant's choices."
Moore was terminated by the university in December after the school concluded that he had an “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member.
The woman had allegedly been in a yearslong relationship with the married Moore when she broke it off with him, a prosecutor said.
Moore allegedly reacted by “making numerous phone calls and sending numerous texts,” before the woman eventually “presented herself to the University of Michigan” and “cooperated in some form of investigation,” a prosecutor added.
Police said Moore barged into the home of the woman he'd been seeing and grabbed two butter knives and a pair of scissors and threatened to kill himself.
Moore took charge of the fabled Wolverines program from Jim Harbaugh, who led Michigan to a national championship before becoming head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Michigan went 8-5 in Moore’s first year running the sidelines in 2024. Michigan was 9-3 this past season before he was fired.
The University of Michigan in late December hired outgoing Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to lead the scandal-plagued Wolverines.
