University of Michigan AD Warde Manuel to step down following $12m culture review
Athletic director Warde Manuel will depart at the end of the calendar year after an independent investigation into the university’s sports department highlighted failures in reporting and structural integrity.
The University of Michigan has announced that athletic director Warde Manuel will step down from his role at the end of the calendar year, concluding his eleven-year tenure. The departure follows the release of a summary from an independent investigation into the culture of the university’s athletic department, which identified significant weaknesses in accountability, oversight, and reporting mechanisms.
The review, conducted over seven months by the Chicago law firm Jenner & Block, cost nearly $12 million. While the investigation concluded that misconduct was not widespread throughout the department, it found that structural deficiencies and poor oversight created conditions where wrongdoing was not always addressed consistently or promptly. Manuel, who has led the department since 2015, will remain with the university to assist President Domenico Grasso in implementing recommendations for continuous improvement.
University President Domenico Grasso issued a video statement criticising the "culture, conduct and procedures" of the athletic department. He cited serious concerns regarding failures in accountability, structural deficiencies, and issues with reporting and support systems, including concerns about retaliation. Grasso noted that the review identified interference and failures of accountability at the highest levels of university leadership, stating that these issues were unacceptable and required immediate action.
The announcement comes amid a series of high-profile scandals involving the university’s football program. These include NCAA violations involving former coach Jim Harbaugh, legal issues with former offensive coordinator Matt Weiss, and the firing of former coach Sherrone Moore following an inappropriate relationship with executive assistant Paige Shiver. Moore was later arrested for trespassing after confronting Shiver following his dismissal. Manuel has never been cited for direct involvement in these incidents.
In response to the findings, the university pledged to strengthen the independence and authority of its compliance function and establish a new Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office. The institution also committed to enhancing the accountability and independence of the athletics human resources department. Manuel’s contract was set to run through 2030 with an annual salary of approximately $2.4 million, though financial details regarding his buyout were not immediately available.
