The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1539777
OCTOBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 37 M ichigan football went 2-0 under interim head coach Biff Poggi, beating Central Michigan (63-3) and Nebraska (30-27) while Sherrone Moore was serving a suspension for allegedly deleting innocuous text messages amidst the NCAA's investigation into the pro- gram for scouting violations. After taking down Nebraska in Lincoln Sept. 20, Poggi said he was going to cel- ebrate as he rides off into the sunset, and back to his associate head coach role. "I'm going to eat some Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream with my wife and smoke a Cuban cigar, and then probably go to the hospital," Poggi joked on his post- game interview with CBS. The 66-year-old found himself in a bit of a national spotlight during his two-game run in charge of the Wolver- ines, but that's not what he was seeking. Along the way, he chose to highlight the program Moore has built, and that he and the staff were following strict orders from their leader while he was gone. "I feel blessed," Poggi said. "I feel so happy for Sherrone Moore, because the building really rallied around him these last two weeks. And I'll die a happy man somewhere." The story of how he got to Michigan in the first place for his first of three stints back in 2016 is "hilarious," the Baltimore native said. It involves a phone call dur- ing Bible study, a meeting at a hotel room and blocking demonstrations using a dresser in said hotel room. Poggi, the founder of hedge fund Samuel James Limited in 1986, began coaching in 1987 even while working a different day job. He coached at the high school level in Baltimore at his alma mater, The Gilman School, from 1988-2015, and Saint Frances Academy from 2017-20. Sandwiched in between those two stops was his first of three stints at Michigan, two of which were under then-head coach Jim Harbaugh. Poggi's son, Henry Poggi, was a full- back at Michigan from 2013-17, play- ing his final three seasons under Har- baugh. "I'm in my house. We have a little church group Bible study on Wednes- day night," Poggi explained. "I leave my phone with my daughter, and I said, 'Only interrupt me if it's one of the chil- dren and there's blood involved.' "She comes down and says, 'There's a guy named Jim Harbaugh on the phone.' I'm like, 'What?' "So, I, of course, thought it was a joke. I pick it up, walk outside and he goes, 'Hey, Biff, it's Jim Harbaugh.' 'Hey, Jim. How you doing?' And we just start talk- ing about Michigan football. He said, ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Biff Poggi Goes 2-0 As Interim Head Coach, Passes Baton Back To Sherrone Moore Poggi guided Michigan to a pair of wins against Central Michigan and at Nebraska during Sherrone Moore's two-game suspension in Weeks 3 and 4. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL