Michigan announced Monday that athletic director Warde Manuel will step down at the end of 2026 after 10 years leading the Wolverines’ athletic department.
The decision follows an internal investigation into the athletic department’s culture after former football coach Sherrone Moore’s firing in December over an undisclosed relationship with a female staffer.
Manuel oversaw Michigan’s most successful stretch in decades. The Wolverines won the College Football Playoff national championship in January 2024 and captured a basketball national title this past April under coach Dusty May.
But scandals have dominated headlines during that same period.
Investigation Findings Lead to Manuel’s Exit
Michigan’s Board of Regents commissioned Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block to investigate the athletic department after Moore’s termination. The firm conducted 350 interviews with coaches, student-athletes and staff members.
The investigation didn’t find widespread misconduct throughout the department, according to Michigan’s statement. However, it identified “weaknesses in accountability, organizational structure, oversight, and reporting” that allowed misconduct to go unaddressed.
The review specifically examined Manuel’s leadership.
“The culture review found that Warde Manuel demonstrated important leadership strengths, particularly his commitment to student-athletes. At the same time, it identified failures to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by Athletic Department employees.”
Manuel will remain in his position through the end of the calendar year while Michigan conducts a full search for his replacement, per On3.
Scandals Overshadow Success
The Moore situation represents just the latest controversy during Manuel’s tenure. Former football coach Jim Harbaugh served two separate suspensions during the 2023 championship season, including one for the program’s sign-stealing violations.
Basketball coach Juwan Howard made headlines in 2022 when he took a swing at an opposing coach during a post-game handshake line. The program then cratered to an 8-24 record in 2023-24 before May’s arrival sparked the national championship run.
When May left for the NBA after winning the title, some criticized Manuel for not doing more to retain him. That departure meant Michigan needed to replace both its football and basketball coaches within months of each other for the second time in three years.
Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger first reported that Manuel’s future was in doubt as the investigation continued, according to his report.
The instability proved too much for university leadership to overlook despite the recent championships.
Manuel’s Response
Manuel addressed his departure in a statement released Monday.
“I am very proud of all the successes and accomplishments of our athletic department over the past 11 years,” Manuel said, per Brett McMurphy. “We have tremendous coaches and professionals who support our outstanding student athletes every day.”
“I am happy President Grasso asked me to stay on to work with him to implement the recommendations for continuous improvement. I promise everyone I will have more to say about my decision at the appropriate time.”
The investigation examined Moore’s conduct regarding his undisclosed workplace relationship that violated university policy, ESPN reported. But the broader culture review extended well beyond that specific matter.
Michigan’s athletic department will now face another period of transition as the university searches for Manuel’s successor while trying to maintain the momentum from recent championship success.
