The University of Michigan commissioned a comprehensive investigation into its athletic department following the dismissal of football coach Sherrone Moore, revealing issues extending beyond Moore’s personal conduct. The law firm Jenner & Block, hired late last year to examine Moore’s situation and the broader athletic culture, identified concerns involving multiple sports programs and highlighted difficulties in handling past controversies concerning other high-profile coaches.
The investigation uncovered problems linked not only to Moore but also to former football coach Jim Harbaugh and former men’s basketball coach Juwan Howard. While the university stated in a summary that the law firm found no widespread misconduct, Jenner & Block’s detailed findings—contained in a slideshow reviewed by Reuters—paint a more complex picture, including previously unreported issues in other sports such as women’s water polo.
Complaints about “abusive, unprofessional behavior” by women’s water polo coach Cassie Churnside surfaced in 2023, according to the investigation. Subsequent grievances followed in 2024 and 2025, prompting formal warnings from Michigan athletic department officials. Churnside eventually resigned in March of this year. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel has acknowledged the need for improvements but emphasized that he consistently communicated with university leadership about the issues.
Regarding men’s basketball, the investigation revisited incidents involving Juwan Howard, who led the Wolverines from 2019 until his departure in March 2024. In February 2022, Howard was suspended and fined following a televised altercation with a Wisconsin assistant coach, an episode labeled “One Free Punch” by the investigators. Another confrontation in December 2023 preceded the university’s decision not to renew his contract after a disappointing season.
In football, the probe revealed warning signs that spanned two coaching tenures. Under Harbaugh, who left after winning the 2023 national championship to coach the Los Angeles Chargers, Michigan faced a significant sign-stealing scandal and recruiting violations. An August 2025 NCAA infractions report described Harbaugh’s program as “largely dismissive of rules compliance,” although Harbaugh has denied knowledge of these actions.
The difficulties extended past Harbaugh’s era. Assistant football coach LaTroy Lewis became subject to a police investigation in 2024 following an allegation of sexual assault. The current status of that inquiry remains unclear. Lewis has denied the accusation, and the accuser has sought legal protection.
The investigation also revealed numerous reputational concerns regarding Moore. In March 2024, university officials were alerted to Moore’s online interactions with an OnlyFans model and social media activity involving women, which had also appeared in athletic department background checks. The firm included evidence suggesting an intimate relationship between Moore and a staff member, including photographic documentation of Moore’s car at the staff member’s residence.
Despite conducting approximately 300 interviews, Jenner & Block could not compel participation, notably from individuals no longer affiliated with Michigan. Among them was Biff Poggi, who served multiple stints on Michigan’s football staff and coached the team in the Citrus Bowl last December. Poggi declined to cooperate with the investigation and described the university as a “malfunctioning organization” in an earlier interview but later expressed gratitude for his time with the school and said he was glad to move on.
The university paid $12 million for the investigation and stated it is focused on implementing the law firm’s recommendations. A spokesperson declined to comment on confidential details but emphasized that the principal findings, recommendations, and resulting actions have been publicly shared. Representatives for Moore and Howard did not provide comments. Legal counsel for Manuel noted ongoing efforts to address the identified issues within the athletic department.