Coach Sherrone Moore dodged a felony charge that would have ended his career, only for his ex-assistant’s public accusation to do it for him
Image by Maize & Blue Nation, CC BY 2.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
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Paige Shiver, the former executive assistant to Sherrone Moore, has broken her silence. She publicly accused the University of Michigan of failing to protect her from years of manipulation, harassment and exploitation even as felony charges against Moore were dismissed.
Her attorneys, with Action Injury Law Group, claim that a significant power imbalance created an environment where Shiver felt pressured and unable to escape. According to the Daily Mail, Andrew M. Stroth spoke to reporters about the allegations. Stroth is Shiver’s attorney. He said Moore “took advantage of a younger female employee” and that university leadership failed to act on the situation for years.
Her lawyers maintain that a “powerful head coach” created a situation that should never happen at a prominent public university like Michigan. “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. A thorough and transparent investigation into this conduct, and any related institutional failures, must occur,” the statement read.
Yeah, this situation is far from over
Stroth didn’t go into extensive detail about the dynamics of the relationship, but he emphasized that Moore’s firing over the affair clearly showed it should never have happened. He added that leadership knew about the situation and failed to protect Shiver, noting that it was a long-term issue, not something that just happened overnight.
This follows a hearing where Moore saw three felony counts dropped, including a home invasion charge that carried a five-year prison limit. Instead, the 40-year-old pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges: trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device in a private relationship. While this plea could lead to six months of jail time at his April 14 sentencing, Moore’s defense team expects this agreement to result in no time behind bars. The entire controversy stems from an inappropriate relationship that ultimately led to Moore’s firing and arrest last December.
Prosecutors stated that the incident began when Moore allegedly barged into Shiver’s apartment shortly after his termination, reportedly threatening her with knives. Court transcripts revealed that Moore told his former mistress, “my blood is on your hands,” after she tried to end the romance.
Despite these allegations, Moore’s attorney Ellen Michaels defended the plea deal. Michaels stated that “the system worked” and that the felony charges were baseless from the start. High-profile sports controversies often involve competing narratives, something also reflected when Patrick Beverley addressed the alleged assault incident that many believed had been misunderstood. Michaels argued that the initial arrest warrant had “glaring” omissions by law enforcement, specifically failing to note that Shiver was Moore’s employee at the time.
Judge J. Cedric Simpson had even suggested previously that Moore’s due process might have been violated by what he called an “intentional misdirection” by police in the warrant. The defense also claimed that Shiver’s lawyers provided information to police to “villainize” Moore and seek a settlement from the university’s “deep pockets.”
Michaels remarked after the hearing that it was “in everyone’s best interests to just get this done,” adding that Moore is “pleased to put this behind him and move forward.” University Athletic Director Warde Manuel had previously stated that the relationship was a “clear violation” of policy.
This ultimately led to the hiring of veteran coach Kyle Whittingham. Despite the university’s “zero tolerance” stance, Shiver’s representatives insist that the institution had a duty to ensure power was never used to exploit others.
Published: Mar 10, 2026 07:45 pm