Sherrone Moore faces the tall task of coaching a Michigan team that went undefeated in Jim Harbaugh’s final season.
The new head coach discussed the upcoming challenge on Joel Klatt’s Big Noon Conversations . Klatt noted that Moore will be the first coach since Frank Solich in 1998 to inherit a defending national champion.
Moore agreed with Klatt’s theory that a coach stepping out of a legend’s shadow won’t succeed by trying to copy their mentor. The former offensive coordinator vowed to stay true to himself in his new role.
“I’m not gonna change,” Moore said (h/t On3 ). “I’m gonna be who I’ve always been. I’ve always been a process-driven person. That’s who I’m gonna be. I’m not gonna change that, and I’m gonna put the players first. Always gonna do that.”
Moore added that he and Jim Harbaugh are “very close” philosophically. He believes they share similar offensive and defensive ideologies and operate along the same lines behind the scenes.
The program won’t require a major culture shift because Moore already played a “big hand” in forming the team’s identity.
“There will be some different changes in what we do,” Moore said. “But to my core, we’re going to be physical. We’re going to be tough. We’re going to try to outlast people. We’ll be multiple in every phase. We’re going to be fundamentally sound and balance what we do.”
With that said, Moore will also carry over valuable lessons from the former head coach. Moore said Harbaugh taught him to “never be afraid” to try something different.
“Just because you did it that way doesn’t mean you should do it that way again,” Moore explained. “Always challenge yourself and challenge other people. I really grew with Coach [Harbaugh] in challenging myself, but also challenging others in a positive way.”
Related: Jim Harbaugh Had Clear Preference For Michigan’s Next Head Coach