By firing Moore for cause, Michigan will not owe Moore any of the money remaining on his five-year contract. Raj Mehta / Getty Images
Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore for cause Wednesday for an alleged relationship with a staff member following a university investigation. While Moore's legal and personal situation remain unclear following his detainment by police on Wednesday, the for-cause nature of his firing means his contract ends immediately, and he will not be owed any money.
Moore was nearing the end of the second year of a five-year contract that paid him around $5.6 million annually.
"This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior," the school said in a statement.
A firing "for cause" means Michigan fired Moore for violating a clause set in his contract. According to a copy of Moore's contract, obtained by The Athletic, one of the clauses that allows Michigan to fire Moore for cause and void his contract is "Conduct by the Head Coach which offends against public decency or morality, as shall be determined by standards prevailing in the community or which results in, or in the reasonable determination of the University could result in, material injury to the reputation, interests or obligations of the University or the Program."
The contract also cites Michigan's standard practice guide, which defines misconduct as "Conduct, performance or behavior, whether by act or omission that interferes with or adversely affects in any way the orderly or efficient operation of the University."
Other for-cause clauses included criminal offenses involving fraud or felony convictions, failure to report "serious" NCAA rules violations by coaches, athletes or other Michigan representatives or "fraud or dishonesty in the performance of any of the duties or responsibilities under this Agreement."
The Athletic has requested a copy of any termination letter that would have informed Moore of his dismissal. Moore's agent has not responded to requests for comment.
Several college football coaches have been fired for cause in recent years, often leading to legal challenges. Former Michigan State coach Mel Tucker was fired in 2023 amid sexual harassment allegations against him by sexual violence activist Brenda Tracy, who was working with the MSU program.
In firing Tucker for cause and voiding his 10-year, $95 million guaranteed contract, Michigan State in its termination letter cited Tucker's actions violating a clause in his contract around "moral turpitude, or which, in the university's reasonable judgment, would tend to bring public disrespect, contempt or ridicule."
Tucker sued Michigan State in 2024 for wrongful termination, but there has been no update in that case since February.
Northwestern fired coach Pat Fitzgerald for cause in 2023 amid an investigation into hazing in the football program. The school had originally decided to only suspend Fitzgerald, before reversing the decision and firing him for cause amid public backlash. Fitzgerald sued for wrongful termination on grounds that the school had agreed on the suspension and had not found that Fitzgerald knew of the hazing. In August, Fitzgerald and Northwestern announced a settlement, and the school stated that no hazing had been reported to Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is now the coach at Michigan State.
Tennessee fired Jeremy Pruitt for cause in 2021 to negate his $12.6 million buyout, but that came after an internal investigation into NCAA violations. Pruitt and a lawyer threatened a lawsuit against Tennessee, but one never came. Pruitt did sue the NCAA earlier this year, alleging it conspired with Tennessee to get him fired. The case remains ongoing.
Most recently, LSU informed Brian Kelly it may fire him for cause after having already announced his dismissal. Kelly filed a legal challenge against the school, which then backed down and informed Kelly he was fired without cause and would be paid his buyout, worth as much as $53 million.