The alleged mistress of disgraced University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore has broken her silence, claiming she faced “years of manipulation, harassment, and exploitation” by the married coach — and that the school failed to protect her.
Paige Shiver released a statement through her attorneys with the Chicago-based Action Injury Law Group on Monday after charges of home invasion, stalking and breaking and entering against Moore were dropped Friday, the Detroit News reported.
The 32-year-old former executive assistant to the married father of three said the power dynamic between Moore — a “powerful head coach” — and a “subordinate employee” created an environment where she “felt pressured, intimidated and unable to escape conduct that should never occur in any workplace — let alone at a public university.”
Her statement did not offer further details about the conduct.
Her attorneys also pointed to a December statement from athletic Director Warde Manuel calling the relationship “a clear violation of University policy” and noting that the school maintains “zero tolerance for such behavior,” suggesting Shiver may not be the only one who experienced “inappropriate, coercive or predatory behavior” from Moore.
The statement urged the University of Michigan to investigate.
“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 said.
“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.”
Shiver’s attorney, Andrew M. Stroth, told the outlet that Moore “took advantage of a younger, female employee.”
“The University of Michigan is one of the prominent institutions in the world, but there’s a culture in the athletic department that has hurt Ms. Shiver and others,” Stroth said, adding that Moore’s firing over the relationship showed it never should have occurred.
“Leadership knew and failed to act to protect her. This isn’t something that happened overnight, it happened a long period of time.”
He declined to elaborate further on the details of their relationship.
Shiver served as Moore’s executive assistant before the embattled gridiron boss was fired and later arrested in December for allegedly breaking into her apartment, where he grabbed butter knives and kitchen scissors and threatened to harm himself.
Before Moore’s firing, Shiver had allegedly shared evidence of their two-year relationship, prompting the Ann Arbor-based university to launch an investigation into the alleged inappropriate relationship.
The 40-year-old, who led the Wolverines’ storied football program for two seasons between 2024 and 2025, was fired on Dec. 10 after “credible evidence” was found supporting the affair with a staff member.
After he was sacked, he allegedly drove to Shiver’s home and barged inside, saying he would hurt himself.
Shiver’s statement comes after Moore pleaded no contest Friday to misdemeanor trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device, while three original charges — including felony home invasion — were dropped.
Moore could face up to six months in jail on the charge of malicious use of a telecommunications device, and 30 days for trespass — a far cry from the five years he was facing for the top count of home invasion.
He is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on April 14.
Both Shiver and Stroth voiced disappointment with the deal and called on the university to answer for its “painful missteps,” TMZ reported.
Stroth warned that a lawsuit against Moore and the University of Michigan is still on the table.
“The University of Michigan is recognized as one of the leading academic institutions in the world,” Stroth told TMZ.
“At this stage, we are exploring all options to obtain justice for Ms. Shiver and advance systemic change within the athletic department at the University.”
Shiver’s contract with the school had expired earlier this month, and she is no longer employed at the university.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
