Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel to leave role after investigation reveals concerns
Warde Manuel will step down as Michigan's athletic director at year-end following an external review that cited failures in accountability and reporting within the department.
Michigan announced Monday that athletic director Warde Manuel will depart at the end of the calendar year. The decision follows the release of a Jenner & Block investigation that identified “serious concerns” about accountability, reporting weaknesses and possible retaliation in the athletic department.
University President Domenico Grasso said the findings require “immediate action” and emphasized the need to restore the program’s reputation both on and off the field. > "This is unacceptable," Grasso said in a video statement.
Manuel, who has led Michigan athletics since 2016 and oversaw national championships in football, men’s basketball, gymnastics and ice hockey, issued a statement expressing pride in the department’s achievements. He also noted his contract runs through 2030 with a salary of about $2.4 million a year and a buyout equal to three years of compensation.
The probe did not find direct, contemporaneous evidence that current staff knew of former football coach Sherrone Moore’s relationship with his executive assistant before Moore’s dismissal in December 2025. However, it concluded that Manuel failed to act promptly on allegations of wrongdoing by department employees.
Moore, who was promoted to head coach in 2024, was fired less than two years later after a former assistant disclosed a romantic relationship with him. The investigation also uncovered a note from Manuel instructing Moore not to travel with the assistant prior to Moore’s first game as head coach.
Michigan has spent nearly $12 million on the investigation and plans to implement reforms, including stronger compliance and human-resources processes, revised misconduct investigation procedures, and mandatory training for coaches on student-athlete mental health, nutrition and eating disorders. The university has declined to release the full report, citing attorney-client privilege.
The department has faced multiple scandals in recent years, including a NCAA fine related to a sign-stealing case, federal charges against a former offensive coordinator for hacking athletes’ images, and a lawsuit alleging Manuel conspired to scapegoat a former assistant coach.
Despite the controversies, Manuel’s tenure featured financial growth and competitive success, and he received the John L. Toner Award for outstanding athletic administration.