In the end, it was the person that former Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore probably hurt the most that saved him from his worst fate.
Judge Cedric Simpson sentenced Moore to 18 months of probation and no jail time on 2 misdemeanor charges of malicious use of a telecommunications device involving a domestic relationship and trespassing on Tuesday.
Moore was arrested in December 2025 on felony home invasion, stalking, and illegal entry charges after he went to the home of Michigan football staffer Paige Shiver following the school’s discovery of their affair, which led to Moore being fired.
Judge Simpson cited Moore’s wife, Kelli, as the reason he was showing Mercy in sentencing and cited a letter she wrote the court as having the “biggest impact” on the sentencing decision.
Moore agreed to plea no contest in a plea deal that saw the felony charges dismissed.
“You , sir, take her for granted,” Judge Simpson told Moore.
Judge Simpson said the letter Kelli Moore wrote the court had the “biggest impact” on the punishment to hand down to Sherrone Moore. “You sir, take her for granted,” Simpson said to Moore.
Moore was also ordered not to use alcohol or marijuana and to continue receiving mental health treatment. He was also ordered not to have any possession of weapons and to have no contact with Shiver.
“Moore sentenced to 18 months probation, no jail time,” ESPN’s Dan Wetzel wrote on his official X account. “Judge said the facts of the case didn’t warrant incarceration, however concerning the incident, he stated: ‘Frankly Mr. Moore, you had no right to do what you did. I know she was placed in fear. It was a traumatic experience for you, it was certainly a traumatic experience for her. But you had no right to spread your pain to her.’ ”
Major Legal Victory Also Saved Sherrone Moore
Sherrone may have been saved from a lengthy prison sentence when it was determined his due process had been violated in the course of the initial investigation.
“Former Michigan Wolverines head football coach Sherrone Moore scored a legal victory Tuesday when a judge granted a request for a hearing to learn more about the investigation that led to criminal charges against him,” Fox News reporter Ryan Gaydos wrote. “(Moore) and his lawyer, Ellen Michaels, have sought to have the case dismissed. Judge J. Cedric Simpson, who is presiding, expressed concern that a police detective didn’t disclose Moore’s employer-employee relationship with the woman when a magistrate authorized a warrant for his arrest. Simpson described it as a ‘glaring omission.’ ”
Sherrone Moore’s Downfall Led to National Scandal
He was hired as head coach to replace Harbaugh following the Wolverines’ undefeated 2023 season — a year in which Moore was acting head coach for 4 games while Harbaugh served a suspension and ended with Michigan winning its first national championship since 1997.
The scandal that took down Moore’s career and saw him lose his reported 5-year, $27.5 million contract grabbed headlines across the country.
According to authorities, the female staffer Moore was having an affair with ended their relationship a few days before Moore was fired with cause by Michigan. In the ensuing days, Moore reportedly tried to contact the staffer through over a dozen phone calls and text messages.
Eventually, Moore went to Shiver’s residence, broke in, and allegedly held a knife to his own throat and threatened to kill both himself and Shiver.
Ex-Michigan Head Coach Sherrone Moore Sentenced in Stalking Case