Paige Shiver, the former executive assistant to former University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore, opened up about their relationship in a 5-minute segment Friday on ABC's "Good Morning America" that included the revelation that she had an abortion because of the relationship.Shiver said the relationship lasted four years and was "encouraged" by members of the university's athletic department, ABC reporter Linsey Davis said. Davis added that Shiver characterized the relationship as an "open secret," and that the leadership was aware of it."(Moore) controlled everything that was going on in my life, and (the university) didn't do anything about it," Shiver said.
UM Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs and Internal Communications Paul Corliss said in a texted statement that the university terminated Moore promptly upon discovering the relationship and that the university "expected more" from its leaders.Shiver, 32, said the relationship began when she was an intern with the Athletic Department. Shiver, then 28, and Moore, then 36 and the team's offensive coordinator, began a "consensual, intimate relationship."Moore's attorney, Ellen Michaels, told ABC that Moore had closed that chapter of his life.When Moore was promoted to head coach, she was promoted to his executive assistant.
To keep her job, Shiver said, she felt she needed to continue the relationship.Despite the worries about job security, Shiver said she tried to end the relationship multiple times. Every time, she said, Moore would manipulate her into staying with him ― sometimes by threatening self-harm."Every time I tried to pull away, he always had a story," Shiver said. "He always had a way to pull me in and make me feel that I couldn't leave him because he was so miserable without me."Shiver also revealed the relationship resulted in a pregnancy that doctors recommended she not keep because of Shiver's genetic Pompe disease. The rare disease causes progressive muscle weakness, respiratory failure and heart issues.Shiver said Moore agreed with her doctor's decision to end the pregnancy.Earlier this month, Moore was sentenced to 18 months of probation for trespassing after breaking into Shiver's home.satwood@detroitnews.comThis article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Paige Shiver reveals abortion in 'open secret' relations with Michigan's Sherrone Moore