Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore discusses his new role: 'I live a dream right now'
Michigan Wolverines football assistant Sherrone Moore is a husband, father, offensive line coach, ace recruiter … and now, the team’s sole offensive coordinator. Moore was promoted this offseason after the program parted ways with former co-coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss. Moore was co-offensive coordinator each of the last two seasons.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh and Co. played coy about how the play calling worked last season, and Moore didn’t want to reveal any secrets, but now it’s his show. It’ll still be a collaborative approach, and Moore praised his offensive staff. It’s an adjustment being the top voice for the offense, but one he’s embracing.
“As far as the play calling duties last year, I’m not going to talk about the specifics, so good try,” Moore said with a laugh while speaking with reporters Tuesday afternoon. “I was a part of the play calling last year. But this year, I have a great staff — first of all — that I work with. [Quarterbacks] Coach [Kirk] Campbell, [tight ends] Coach [Grant] Newsome, [running backs and run game coordinator] Coach [Mike] Hart, [wide receivers] Coach [Ron] Bellamy, all the GAs, all the analysts.
“I have an incredible group of guys that are all working in the same line, in the same vision to help us win championships, beat Ohio State, beat Michigan State, beat Penn State, win the Big Ten and the end goal. We’re all working on the same vision to do that.
“Is it a little bit more work? A little bit, but this is something I’ve prepared for my whole life. Motivated to do, and I’m just gonna continue to work and only keep my head down and do what I know best.”
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Moore has a lot on his plate, but Harbaugh has added more and more responsibility for the 37-year-old each season over the last three, and he’s responded in stellar fashion. Michigan’s offensive line has won the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s top group in both of his seasons in charge of the unit. He coached a successful tight end group before that.
“I mean, there’s a little bit more work involved because you’re looking at every single piece of it,” Moore said of his new role within the Michigan offense. “I did the same thing last year. So there’s not too much difference, just be on game days the play calling will be a little different.
“To me, I see it all the same, just because I always have a watchful eye of everything that’s going on. So just try to delegate a little bit more, which has helped but I have a great staff to do that. So it’s been awesome, especially with Kirk and the guys have been phenomenal.”
Moore is a high-intensity, upbeat coach who demands a lot from his players but has also stressed the importance building relationships with them. Overall, the Michigan assistant is enjoying the process.
“I don’t come in here and work at all,” Moore said. “It’s fun for me. This is just too fun for me. I live a dream right now. So I’m just gonna continue to grind as hard as I can and live out this dream that we’re living in.”
What Sherrone Moore wants to get out of Michigan spring game
Michigan will hold its annual spring game Saturday afternoon at The Big House (3 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network). It’s a great opportunity for younger players to receive game-type reps. The team and staff has been split into two — ‘Team Blue’ and ‘Team Maize’ — with Hart and safeties coach and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh heading them up.
“You’re in a game day atmosphere, especially guys that haven’t played in a game day atmosphere,” Moore explained. “Younger guys, or guys that haven’t played, just see how they react, see how they react in The Big House — who they are, how they react with fans. It’s not the practice atmosphere with the coaches right there behind them. That’s the biggest thing for us.”
“We know what [graduate offensive lineman] Karsen Barnhart is going to do. We know what [graduate offensive lineman] Trente [Jones] is gonna do. We know [junior quarterback] J.J. [McCarthy] And he’s just gotten better and better.
“I’m seeing those young guys to see how they react in that atmosphere. And just let them all have fun. The big thing we’re wanting to do is go out there, compete. Enjoy the time, embrace the time, and have a lot of fun.”
