The Sherrone Moore scandal has taken a dramatic new turn. Paige Shiver, the former executive assistant at the center of the case, has broken her silence with a blistering statement accusing the University of Michigan of failing to protect her from “years of manipulation, harassment, and exploitation”. Her attorneys are now threatening a lawsuit against the university, signaling that the legal battle is far from over even after Moore’s criminal case concluded.
On March 6, 2026, Sherrone Moore appeared in court and saw three felony charges against him, home invasion, stalking, and illegal entry, dismissed as part of a plea agreement. The former Michigan head coach instead pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors: trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device.
The charges stemmed from a December 10 incident, hours after Moore was fired by the university for having an inappropriate relationship with Shiver, who was his executive assistant. According to prosecutors, Moore forced his way into Shiver’s apartment, blamed her for his termination, and grabbed butter knives and kitchen scissors while threatening to kill himself. A prosecutor quoted Moore as telling Shiver, “My blood is on your hands”.
Throughout the case, Moore’s attorney Ellen Michaels argued the arrest warrant was deeply flawed. She claimed police relied on misinformation from Shiver’s personal lawyer, Heidi Sharp, to “villainize Mr. Moore and maximize the chances of obtaining a large settlement from the deep pockets of the University of Michigan”.
Judge J. Cedric Simpson expressed concern that a police detective failed to disclose Moore’s employer-employee relationship with Shiver when a magistrate authorized the arrest warrant, a “glaring omission” that may have violated Moore’s due process. The judge set a March 2 evidentiary hearing, but the case resolved before it took place.
Michaels also noted that Shiver did not respond to a dozen calls and texts from Moore on the day of the incident, but argued those communications had a legitimate purpose because Moore was preparing his team for a bowl game.
Now, with the criminal case resolved, Shiver is speaking out for the first time. In a statement released Monday by Action Injury Law Group, her attorneys accused the university of institutional failure.
“Institutions entrusted with the education and safety of students and employees have a fundamental duty to ensure that power is never used to exploit or silence others,” the statement read. “A thorough and transparent investigation into this conduct, and any related institutional failures, must occur. Our client came forward at tremendous personal cost because she believes that silence allows abuse of power to continue”.
Her attorney, Andrew M. Stroth, told The Detroit News that Moore “took advantage of a younger, female employee” and that university leadership “knew and failed to act to protect her”. Stroth emphasized that because Moore was fired over the relationship, “it was clear it should never have happened” and alleged the misconduct occurred “over a long period of time”.
Shiver’s legal team is framing the case as a systemic failure rather than a isolated incident. The statement highlights the inherent power imbalance between a “powerful head coach” and a younger female employee, arguing that such dynamics should never occur at a prominent public university.
University records show Shiver’s salary increased dramatically during her tenure, rising 70.6 percent over three seasons, from $58,025 in 2022 to $99,000 in 2025. Shiver is the daughter of Chicago Bears scout Jeff Shiver, who has appeared at Michigan games with his daughter throughout her time in Ann Arbor.
Moore’s plea agreement could result in up to six months in jail when he is sentenced on April 14, though his defense team expects no time behind bars. After the hearing, Michaels stated Moore is “pleased to put this behind him and move forward”.
The 40-year-old coach was married to his wife Kelli since 2015, and they share three daughters born in 2019, 2022, and 2025. On the day of the incident, Kelli Moore called 911 expressing concern for her husband’s well-being. “I’m worried that my husband is going to hurt himself,” she told dispatchers. “He just called me and said he got fired from his job. He’s in crisis”.
Athletic Director Warde Manuel previously stated the relationship was a “clear violation” of university policy, leading to Moore’s termination and the hiring of veteran coach Kyle Whittingham as his replacement. The university has its own independent investigation into the relationship between Moore and his former assistant, as well as the overall culture in Michigan’s Athletic Department.
The University of Michigan has declined to comment further following the release of Shiver’s statement.
With Shiver’s legal team now signaling a potential lawsuit, the focus shifts from criminal court to civil litigation. The university faces the prospect of a public legal battle over its handling of the situation and whether it failed in its duty to protect an employee from an inappropriate relationship with a superior.
As Stroth put it: “This isn’t something that happened overnight, it happened over a long period of time”. The question now is whether Michigan’s leadership knew, and if so, what they did about it.
