Michigan AD Warde Manuel Steps Down Following Comprehensive Department Review
- On Monday, July 20, 2026, University of Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel announced he will step down at the end of the year, with officials launching a national search for his successor.
- The decision follows a Jenner & Block investigation initiated last December after the firing of former football coach Sherrone Moore for an alleged "inappropriate relationship" with his executive assistant.
- Investigators identified "weaknesses" in accountability, organizational structure, and oversight that allowed misconduct to persist; the report noted Manuel's failure to act quickly on allegations of wrongdoing by Athletic Department employees.
- President Domenico Grasso announced Manuel will serve as a "special advisor to the president" through year-end to help implement structural reforms addressing compliance, discipline, and student-athlete support systems.
- Despite national championships in football, basketball, and gymnastics under his leadership, Manuel's tenure was marked by persistent criticism regarding scandals, lawsuits, and investigations involving multiple coaches.
81 Articles
81 Articles
Urban Meyer Sounds Off on Kyle Whittingham's New Reality as Warde Manuel Steps Down
When Kyle Whittingham became Michigan’s new head coach, he was well aware of the situation he was stepping into. UM was coming off several high-profile scandals that culminated in Sherrone Moore’s firing last December. Whittingham even acknowledged the troubles in interviews but signaled that the program was past it. But now, he is being dealt a new hand. AD Warde Manuel, who hired him, is stepping down, and his close friend Urban Meyer has rais…
The Derrick
Bob Wojnowski: Warde Manuel is leaving, but will Michigan learn?
DETROIT — Michigan got it half right. The school admitted it had weaknesses in “accountability” and “oversight” in its athletic department during a decade-long run of rampant success and rampant controversy. The independent investigation revealed smoke, if not smoking guns,…
Warde Manuel is leaving, but will Michigan learn?
DETROIT — Michigan got it half right. The school admitted it had weaknesses in “accountability” and “oversight” in its athletic department during a decade-long run of rampant success and rampant controversy. The independent investigation revealed smoke, if not smoking guns,…
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