Last December, after being dismissed from Michigan, former head coach Sherrone Moore became the central figure in a criminal case tied to an alleged inappropriate relationship and a disturbing incident at a staffer’s home. But the serious charges were dropped as part of a plea deal. Despite this, CFB legend Cam Newton is now pondering whether the resolution could potentially pave the way for Moore’s return to coaching.

“Well, I say it like this. We live in a day and age where you are guilty until proven innocent. Not innocent until proven guilty,” said Newton during his Friday appearance on his show 4th&1 With Cam Newton. “Like the damage has already been done for Sherrone Moore, he and his family. It’s, I would say, a good look for his wife to still stick with him through it all.”

“But at the same time, the question now comes: does he get another job? I don’t think so, not in the next year or so, because you’ve got to let that stench kind of air out a little bit. You know what I’m saying? A GA or whatever. But needless to say, this makes everybody with a platform to just be mindful of the decisions that you make. And when you have so much that’s expected of you, it comes with so much responsibility. And this is a story that can remind us of that specific situation.”

Michigan terminated Moore “for cause” after discovering an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. A clear violation of University policy. If that wasn’t bad enough, he went to the staff member’s home, and the latter called the police after he allegedly brandished kitchen utensils and threatened self-harm. Initially, the former Michigan head coach was charged with felony third-degree home invasion and stalking.

He reached a plea agreement, and the felony charges were dropped after he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors. Despite that, the overall episode doesn’t speak well for a man tasked with leading a college football program.

“So, please be mindful of that. I’m glad that the charges were dropped. It’s just unfortunate that even with the charges being dropped, you still can’t get hired,” said Newton.

That seems to be what Moore will go through in the near future. However, there’s a precedent in college football of head coaches returning to the job after being fired for cause.

Petrino had led the Razorbacks to an 11–2 season and a #5 national ranking in 2011. But in April next year, he was involved in a motorcycle accident while riding with a female staffer. News came out that Petrino was having an extramarital affair. After initially lying to athletic director Jeff Long about her presence on the bike, Petrino was fired for cause.

After sitting out the 2012 season, Petrino was hired as the head coach at Western Kentucky in 2013. Then he jumped to Louisville in 2014, where he was the head coach for five seasons. During this stretch, it was Petrino who recruited and coached future Heisman winner and multiple time NFL MVP winner Lamar Jackson. The most surprising thing was his eventual return to Arkansas. First, as their offensive coordinator in 2023, and later as interim head coach in 2025 once Sam Pittman was fired.

Similarly, Hugh Freeze also had a journey which took him from fired and disgraced head coach to back in the SEC. It started in July 2017, when Freeze was forced to resign as the head coach at Ole Miss after the university discovered a “pattern of conduct” involving calls to an escort service on his school-issued phone. The program was also under investigation for NCAA recruiting violations at the time.

After two years of staying away from the national conversation, Freeze was given a second chance by Liberty University in 2019. He rewarded them by taking the team to a record of 34–15 over four seasons, leading the Flames to three bowl victories and proving he could still win at a high level. In November 2022, Freeze returned to the SEC as the head coach of Auburn University. He was fired last year , but Freeze is sure to find another college head coaching job soon.

Then there is the redemption story of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. In October 2015, USC athletic director Pat Haden fired Sarkisian for cause after multiple incidents related to alcohol abuse. These included showing up intoxicated to team meetings and even to a public booster event.

Sarkisian entered rehab and was hired by Nick Saban to be an offensive analyst at Alabama in 2016. His success at Alabama eventually got him the head coaching opportunity at the University of Texas in 2021. By 2023, he had led the Longhorns to a Big 12 Championship and their first College Football Playoff appearance.

So it is not impossible for Sherrone Moore to find his way back to another head coaching job. But it will take some years and a healthy amount of luck on his side. That said, there is also a victim in this case who is looking for justice.

Paige Shiver’s allegation against Sherrone Moore

Serious allegations have emerged involving Moore, as Paige Shiver claims she endured years of “manipulation, harassment, and exploitation” while working in Michigan. In a March 6 statement released by her legal team, Shiver’s attorneys alleged that Moore’s position gave him “enormous power” over her professional life.

The imbalance between a powerful head coach and a subordinate employee created an environment where Shiver felt pressured and intimidated. Moore’s attorney, Ellen Michaels, defended her client following the hearing, saying the dismissal of the more severe charges showed the allegations were not supported by facts of law and that Moore was ready to move forward.

On the flip side, the statement also claims Shiver believes she may not have been the only employee subjected to “inappropriate, coercive, or predatory behavior.” By publicly revealing her identity despite what her attorneys described as a “tremendous personal cost,” Shiver hopes others who may have stayed silent out of fear will come forward.