Jim Harbaugh, who left to lead the Chargers, insisted that Sherrone Moore be hired by Michigan.

(AP) ANN ARBOR, Mich. In an attempt to replicate some of the success that head coach Jim Harbaugh enjoyed near the end of his nine seasons with the most successful college football program, Michigan is giving Sherrone Moore a chance.

Athletic director Warde Manuel stated Jan. 27 at Moore’s inaugural news conference, “Jim talked effusively about Sherrone before the season, after the season, and in our conversation on Wednesday (Jan. 24) and really gave me the insight why he was our choice.”

On January 26, Michigan hired Moore, a 37-year-old offensive coordinator, to succeed head coach Jim Harbaugh and take the defending national champion team to a new level.

The decision was made just two days after Harbaugh left to take the helm of the Los Angeles Chargers on a five-year contract that will allow him to try again for a Super Bowl championship.

Moore’s five-year contract includes a $5.5 million base salary, guaranteed yearly raises, and multiple bonuses for conference and national championships ($500,000, $200,000, and $1 million, respectively) and College Football Playoff appearances.

In a formal sense, Moore is a new head coach.

While Moore was standing in for Harbaugh during the 2023 season while he served two separate suspensions for possible NCAA rules violations, Michigan went 4-0, including victories over Ohio State and Penn State.

Moore becomes Michigan football’s first Black head coach in program history.

Longtime Wolverines assistant coach and staff member Fred Jackson, who is Black, stated, “It’s time.”