Crying Sherrone Moore had intense blowup with Wink Martindale as Michigan crumbled

Wink Martindale’s Giants tenure ended after a blowup with Brian Daboll.

His relationship with his next head coach deteriorated similarly.

According to the Detroit Free Press, things between Martindale, Michigan’s defensive coordinator, and since-fired head coach Sherrone Moore took an ugly turn in February, when Moore “delivered a vitriolic outburst featuring tears and tossed papers” because he overheard coaches talking about a potential recruit.

Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. Getty Images

Moore, fired on Dec. 10 over an inappropriate relationship with a staffer and then hit with charges related to entering the staffer’s apartment after the firing, told his coaches he didn’t want “people talking behind [his] back” regarding recruits, the Free Press reports.

“Look, we’re trying to help you … get the right recruits,” Martindale responded.

“You don’t know what the [expletive] you’re doing,” Moore replied.

“Yeah … I’m just the old guy,” Martindale, now 62, said.

That’s when Moore lost it and started crying.

“You don’t know how hard it is to be the head football coach and the pressure,” Moore said before going back to his office.

A high-ranking Michigan official told the Free Press that Moore “wasn’t even speaking to his coaches” in the weeks leading up to his firing.

Another source told the outlet simply of Moore and Martindale: “Yeah, they did not like each other.”

Sherrone Moore during his arraignment on Dec. 12, 2025. Washtenaw County Court

Martindale told the Free Press he was advised not to comment on Michigan football matters.

Moore, a 39-year-old husband and father of three, was charged with third-degree felony home invasion, and misdemeanors of stalking and breaking and entering after he allegedly broke into his mistress’ apartment after his firing and threatened suicide after grabbing butter knives and scissors.

“I’m gonna kill myself, I’m gonna make you watch, my blood is on your hands, you ruined my life,” Moore allegedly told his mistress, Paige Shiver, Washtenaw County assistant prosecutor Kati Rezmierski said during Moore’s arraignment on Dec. 12.

Martindale left the Giants in January 2024 after he was furious that Daboll fired Martindale’s right-hand man, outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins, along with Wilkins’ brother Kevin, who was a defensive assistant.

Martindale cursed Daboll out before storming out of the practice facility.