ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Fired University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is facing multiple charges in connection with the alleged home invasion and stalking of a staff member with whom he had a relationship.
Moore allegedly “barged his way” into the woman’s apartment Wednesday and threatened to kill himself after she disclosed their relationship to the school, NPR reports. During the invasion, he reportedly grabbed several butter knives and a pair of scissors from a kitchen drawer and said, “‘I’m going to kill myself. I’m going to make you watch. My blood is on your hands. You ruined my life.”
The university first learned of a potential relationship between the pair when it received an anonymous tip earlier this year, according to Detroit Free Press. Both were brought in for questioning by the school and had their phones searched, but no impermissible relationship was discovered.
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Washtenaw County First Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski said Moore and the woman had been having an affair “for a number of years” before she ended the relationship on Monday and disclosed it to the university on Wednesday.
The school announced Wednesday that Moore was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. The alleged home invasion happened just hours later. Moore’s defense attorney Joe Simon said his client was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation after his arrest and then returned to the jail.
Moore has been charged with third-degree felony home invasion and misdemeanor counts of stalking and breaking and entering. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf by District Court Magistrate Odetalla Odetalla. Moore was released from jail after meeting the $25,000 bond. He has been ordered to wear a GPS tracking device, stay in Michigan, and abstain from alcohol. His next court hearing is set for Jan. 22.
University of Michigan Policy Forbids Relationships Between Employees, Supervisors
While Moore was terminated from the university, the victim was not. When asked why by USA Today Sports, the university pointed to its policy, Policy No. 201.97, which states a supervisor may not “implicitly or explicitly, initiate or attempt to initiate an intimate relationship with a supervisee.”
While it’s not clear whether Moore or the victim initiated the relationship, the policy requires the supervisor to disclose the relationship to the university. If a relationship is disclosed, the university then would create a management plan to remove the supervisor’s power over the employee. Although it is encouraged, supervisees have no obligation to disclose.
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“Recognizing that Intimate Relationships exist or may develop in the workplace that are not initiated by a Supervisor and are free from coercion and abuse of power, immediate disclosure of the relationship by the Supervisor is required,” the policy states. “Failure of the Supervisor to disclose an Intimate Relationship is a serious offense and cause for discipline, up to and including dismissal from employment.”
Moore, the team’s former offensive coordinator, signed a five-year contract with a base annual salary of $5.5 million last year. The university will not have to buy out the remaining years of his contract since he was fired with cause.
