The Michigan football program is in the middle of one of its most turbulent stretches in recent memory, and the timing couldn’t be more delicate. Just weeks before a major bowl game showdown with Texas, the Wolverines are dealing with the fallout from the dismissal of head coach Sherrone Moore.
Moore was fired on December 10 following a serious off-field incident involving a female staff member. According to reports, the situation escalated when Moore allegedly forced his way into the staffer’s home and threatened both himself and her with knives and scissors.
He was later detained by police and now faces three criminal charges: felony home invasion, stalking in a domestic relationship, and breaking and entering. After spending two nights in jail, Moore was released on $25,000 bail under strict conditions, including wearing a GPS tether, avoiding contact with the victim, abstaining from alcohol, and undergoing mental health treatment.
His next court appearance is set for January 22. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to six years in prison.
With Moore out, Michigan turns once again to Biff Poggi - a familiar face who stepped in earlier this season during Moore’s two-game suspension. The Wolverines went 2-0 under Poggi’s interim leadership, and while it’s a small sample size, there’s a segment of the fanbase that liked what they saw during his brief stint.
Now, Poggi is back in charge, but this time under far more emotional and complex circumstances. And make no mistake - this isn’t just about playbooks and practice schedules. It’s about trust, healing, and keeping a locker room together when everything around it is shaking.
Speaking at a promotional event for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Poggi didn’t shy away from the emotional weight the team is carrying.
“It has been a tumultuous time. A lot of anger - first disbelief, then anger,” Poggi said. “The kids, quite frankly, feel very betrayed, and we’re trying to work through that.”
That sense of betrayal cuts deep. For players who put their trust in a coach, only to see that relationship unravel in such a public and painful way, it’s more than just a distraction.
It’s a gut punch. And for Poggi, the mission now is clear: stabilize the team, build back trust, and keep the focus on the field.
Poggi’s approach has been rooted in empathy and connection. He’s met with every player individually - not just once, but multiple times - and he’s been in regular contact with their families. That kind of communication matters, especially in a moment like this.
“The message has been listening,” Poggi explained. “I want to understand what the kids are feeling and what their parents are feeling. So, a lot of listening.”
He’s not sugarcoating it, either. Poggi acknowledged the emotional rollercoaster the team is riding - and that it’s far from over.
“There’s been a wide range of emotions, as you can imagine, and we kind of are going through those steps,” he said. “They’re not over yet, and I don’t expect them to be over for a while, quite frankly.
But our main message is the mandate that Warde Manuel gave me as the athletic director when he asked me to be the interim coach: to love and take care of the kids. And so that’s what I’m spending all of my time doing - loving kids.”
That message resonates. Poggi has earned a reputation as a player-first coach, someone who connects on a personal level.
Some players even jokingly call him the “cool grandpa” - a nickname that speaks to the kind of presence he brings to the program. Calm, steady, and deeply human.
In the midst of all this, Michigan still has a bowl game to prepare for and a transfer portal window opening on January 2. The pressure to find a permanent head coach is real, and the clock is ticking. But for now, Poggi is the man steering the ship - and he’s doing it with heart.
The Wolverines are in a tough spot, but they’re not adrift. With Poggi at the helm, the team has someone who’s not just focused on game plans, but on the emotional well-being of the players who wear the maize and blue. And in a moment like this, that might be the most important kind of leadership there is.