On the eve of Michigan football’s season opener against Fresno State, some odd news hit the wire when it was revealed that new head coach Sherrone Moore still had not signed his contract that was offered back in January.
Many speculated as to what that was about, with some jeering the Wolverines for what appeared like a contract signing at the time he was offered. Moore was operating (and had signed) a memorandum of understanding and later insisted that he was being paid as the head coach and that the signing of the contract was just a formality.
Said formality has now been concluded, apparently.
According to Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel on Wednesday, Moore and the university brass have all fully executed the contract and are moving forward as expected.
“We are excited to announce that the full contract for University of Michigan Football Coach Sherrone Moore has been signed by all parties,” Manuel said. “He is a proven leader and has been a great ambassador during his seven-plus years representing Michigan. Our university and athletic department leadership is behind Coach Moore, his coaching staff and the great student-athletes that compete on the field and in the classroom. We are excited to see our team take the field this Saturday against Arkansas State.”
Of course this was just a formality and a head coach can operate under a memorandum of understanding for quite some time.
Regardless, Moore shared in his statement that he’s excited to move forward in fully official capacity and that his focus has remained on the team rather than just himself.
“Our University of Michigan administration led by President Santa Ono and Athletic Director Warde Manuel has been tremendous throughout this process, and I am excited to have this full contract completed,” Moore said. “Their support for our team is greatly appreciated and all three of us are aligned in our goals for this football program. We want the attention to be on the players that work so hard to represent this team and university at the highest level. All of my focus is and always will be centered on the mental, physical and spiritual development of the young men that suit up to play for Michigan. Go Blue!”
Two games into his official capacity as the head coach, Moore is 1-1, having beaten Fresno State 30-10 before losing to Texas, 31-12. Up next, Moore hopes to get his team right against a 2-0 Arkansas State team.