Michigan coach Sherrone Moore is facing allegations of violating NCAA rules amid an investigation into impermissible scouting and sign-stealing that has overshadowed the program since last season’s national championship run, according to three sources familiar with an upcoming notice of allegations shared with The Associated Press.
Two of the sources indicated that Moore is accused of deleting text messages exchanged with Connor Stalions, a former low-level recruiting staffer who coordinated an off-campus scouting operation, around the time the investigation began. This allegation is part of a draft of the NCAA’s notice to Michigan.
The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the confidentiality of the notice.
One source mentioned that the NCAA has recommended a Level 2 violation for Moore, which is less severe than a Level 1 violation. It was also noted that the messages between Moore and Stalions were recovered and subsequently provided to the NCAA by the coach.
ESPN reported that it had obtained a draft of the notice of allegations, which may differ from the final version that will be sent to Michigan.
Moore, 38, was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach after Jim Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers shortly after leading the Wolverines to their first national title since 1997. Last season, Moore served as acting head coach during Harbaugh’s suspensions, winning all four games, including a significant victory against rival Ohio State.
Harbaugh has denied any involvement in impermissible scouting while with the program, although he may face Level 1 violations along with Stalions, former assistant coach Chris Partridge, who was fired in November, and former staffer Denard Robinson.
Stalions did not cooperate with the investigation, and Robinson, a former star quarterback for Michigan, left the program in May after being arrested for driving under the influence. His alleged violation is related to recruiting, not Stalions’ actions.
The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh for the last three games of the 2023 regular season due to violations of the conference’s sportsmanship policy following the investigation into the sign-stealing scheme.
NCAA President Charlie Baker stated earlier this year that the Wolverines won the national championship “fair and square.”
In-person scouting is prohibited by the NCAA, which investigated Michigan’s alleged system to determine its organization and the knowledge of those involved. Records from other Big Ten schools indicated that Stalions purchased tickets to various games of future opponents and sent individuals to record teams as they signaled their plays.
Stalions was initially placed on leave and later resigned amid the scandal.
He is set to speak out on August 27 in a Netflix documentary titled “Sign Stealer.”
Moore and Michigan could face more serious charges from the NCAA as repeat violators, following a separate investigation into recruiting violations.
Last December, the NCAA sent Michigan a notice regarding impermissible recruiting during the COVID-19 dead period, leading to the school’s self-imposed three-game suspension of Harbaugh at the season’s start. Moore received a one-game suspension, and Michigan used different acting coaches for those three games.
The case was settled in April through a negotiated agreement with the NCAA, resulting in three years of probation for the school, although Harbaugh did not participate in those discussions.
Harbaugh previously told NCAA investigators he would not accept an unethical conduct charge for not being forthcoming, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation.
The current Michigan case is expected to take months to resolve. NCAA policy allows schools 90 days to respond to a notice of allegations, after which a hearing before the NCAA’s committee on infractions will be scheduled, although a negotiated resolution may still occur.
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