The news struck Wednesday evening of what Michigan fans feared most: Jim Harbaugh accepted the head coaching job of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Harbaugh, who brought the Wolverines their first national championship since 1997, will be returning to the NFL and joining his brother as a head coach in the AFC. Harbaugh had been with the Wolverines since 2015, leading them to an overall record of 86-25 in that time.
The exit of the beloved coach leaves a void that will be hard to fill, but it appears the Wolverines might already have a plan. Michigan is focusing on offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore as Harbaugh’s successor, according to Chris Low of ESPN. Low stated that Moore is expected to be offered the job “barring an unexpected development.”
Michigan is focusing its coaching search to replace Jim Harbaugh on Sherrone Moore, per @ClowESPN:https://t.co/jLt3SdrF5s
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2024
Moore has been with the Wolverines since 2018. He was the tight end coach until 2020 when he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator. Before the start of the 2023 season, Moore was named the sole offensive coordinator for the eventual national champions. He also stood in as acting head coach during Harbaugh’s four-game suspension this season.
Seeing Harbaugh leave the program after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship will be a tough pill to swallow for many of the Michigan faithful. However, on the bright side, Wolverines fans might not have to learn a new name, as Sherrone Moore is already well-loved in Ann Arbor.