The University of Michigan announced Monday that athletic director Warde Manuel will step down at the end of the calendar year.
This announcement comes as Michigan released information that was discovered in the Jenner & Block investigation.
The investigation covered a myriad of off-field incidents over his tenure. Most recently, the actions of former football coach Sherrone Moore in December and the Connor Stallions’ sign-stealing scandal. The investigation also looked into the entire culture of the athletic department.
Last week, Manuel, amid the rumors of his future in doubt, dispelled the rumors and made this statement to Yahoo Sports.
“No plans for me not to continue to be the athletic director for the near future,” Manuel said.
Manuel was earning approximately $2.4 million a year and had a contract that ran through 2030.
Manuel is a former football player at Michigan and has been the athletic director since 2016. He has overseen many prominent coaching changes in his tenure. He hired Sherrone Moore, who replaced Jim Harbaugh, right after the 2023 National Championship. Harbaugh was embattled into sign-stealing and recruiting violations. One of Harbaugh’s former assistant coaches was also indicted for hacking personal accounts of student-athletes. Manuel also hired and cut ties with former hockey coach Mel Pearson, who was let go due to toxic culture amid an investigation. He hired and fired former basketball coach Juwan Howard, who was suspended at one point for a physical altercation with Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard. He also hired his successor, Dusty May, who recently decided to coach the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.
Most recently, Manuel hired a new head football coach, Kyle Whittingham, and promoted Mike Boynton Jr. and named him head basketball coach.
Despite the off-field incidents, Manuel did deliver a national championship in the two highest revenue sports. The 2023 men’s football national championship and the 2026 men’s basketball national championship. The men’s hockey team also made five Frozen Four appearances under his tenure.
