Over the past several years, the University of Michigan’s athletic department has found itself making headlines for all the wrong reasons, as a series of high-profile scandals have continued to pile up. Now, it appears the university is finally stepping in to address the situation.
According to a report from ESPN, Michigan has retained Jenner & Block, a Chicago-based law firm that has previously worked with the school, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the culture and operations of its athletic department. The firm will examine how multiple scandals unfolded and how the department responded to them over the past several years.
The investigation follows the university’s decision to fire head football coach Sherrone Moore for cause after uncovering what it described as “an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” the university said in a statement Wednesday. “Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
After Moore’s dismissal, he was later arrested and charged with two misdemeanors and a felony stemming from allegations that he broke into the home of the Michigan staffer and issued threats of violence.
This is far from the first major controversy to engulf Michigan in recent months.
Earlier this year, former offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was indicted on 24 counts related to unauthorized computer access and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors claim Weiss orchestrated a sprawling, multi-year scheme to gain access to the personal accounts of thousands of NCAA student-athletes nationwide, allegedly targeting female athletes in an effort to obtain private and intimate photos and videos.
In addition, Michigan was at the center of a widely publicized NCAA investigation involving an illegal advanced scouting operation tied to former staffer Connor Stalions, which ultimately resulted in four years of probation and a fine that could exceed $30 million.
Needless to say, this investigation led to a lot of reactions on social media.
“Any athletic director should lose their job the moment this headline is written,” one person wrote in a post on X.
“The most corrupt university on Earth,” someone else added.
“Remember when Desmond tweeted about how despicable Jim Tressel and Ohio State were because of free tattoos?” another person added.
“Warde Manuel your days are numbered,” someone else added.
“Burn it all down,” another person said.
It appears Michigan is now attempting to confront the underlying issues that have allowed these incidents to continue occurring.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.