Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel’s time in Ann Arbor might be coming to an end. Manuel’s future with the school is in doubt in the wake of an internal investigation into the saga around football head coach Sherrone Moore’s firing in December, sources told Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger.
Manuel, who was hired as the school’s AD in 2016, has overseen a number of recent scandals, but signed a five-year extension in 2024. That extension, which currently runs through 2030, earns him more than $2 million per year; a buyout would require 36 months of severance pay unless a settlement is reached.
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An announcement on Manuel’s future is expected later this week, with the Michigan Regents set to meet for a board meeting on Thursday.
In December, Moore was arrested by police and fired by Michigan for an “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member. He was later charged with felony home invasion.
Moore’s lawyers reached a plea deal in March, with the former coach set to serve no jail time as part of the deal. The staffer, Paige Shiver, told Good Morning America in April that the other coaches knew about their relationship, and that she was tasked with keeping Moore’s emotions in check.
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Shortly after Moore was fired, Michigan hired a law firm to conduct an independent investigation into how the athletic department handled not only Moore’s case, but also other scandals (including the sign-stealing scandal under former football coach Jim Harbaugh).
In addition to those scandals, Manuel oversaw two major national titles, with Michigan college football taking home the championship in 2023 and men’s basketball winning the NCAA title in 2026. However, after both trophies, Manuel failed to keep either head coach from heading to the pros, as Jim Harbaugh left to join the Los Angeles Chargers and, more recently, basketball coach Dusty May left Ann Arbor behind to coach the Dallas Mavericks.
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Kyle Whittingham was later hired as the football team’s new head coach, just weeks after Moore was fired, as the Wolverines attempt to move on fully from the Harbaugh era. Mike Boynton Jr., who joined the basketball program as part of May’s staff, was promoted to interim head coach in the wake of May’s departure, with the interim tag later removed.
