Reports surfaced Sunday suggesting that Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel could be on his way out following an external investigation into the culture within the university’s athletic department — but Manuel himself is telling a different story.
Manuel, who has served as athletic director at his alma mater since January 2016, says he does not expect to be removed from his position when investigation findings are presented at an upcoming Michigan board of regents meeting reportedly scheduled for this week.
“The president and I have had several great conversations over the past couple of days,” Manuel told Yahoo Sports, speaking about his relationship with Michigan president Domenico Grasso. “There are no plans for me not to continue to be the athletic director for the near future.”
The board is set to convene Thursday in Traverse City, Michigan, where members will review the results of a $12 million inquiry into the Wolverines’ athletics program. The investigation stems from a scandal involving former head football coach Sherrone Moore. However, a university spokesman told several media outlets Sunday that there are currently no plans to release any materials from the investigation — conducted by the law firm Jenner & Block — during this week’s meeting.
Manuel, 58, is reportedly weighing his options, which may include retirement, according to CBS Sports. He signed a five-year contract extension through June 30, 2030, back in December 2024, which carries an annual base salary of $1.9 million. Should the university terminate him without cause before the contract expires, he would be entitled to 36 months of severance pay. A termination with cause, however, would allow the school to avoid paying out the remainder of his contract. A mutual buyout agreement is also a possibility.
Michigan president Grasso had previously stated, after the board authorized the investigation in December, that the probe would extend into “an independent evaluation of culture, conduct and procedures throughout our athletics department.”
The investigation follows the firing of Moore on December 10 for cause, after it was revealed he had engaged in a longstanding personal relationship with his then-executive assistant, Paige Shiver. On the same day he was dismissed, Moore allegedly went to Shiver’s apartment, where she told authorities he forced his way in, grabbed two butter knives, and backed her into a corner.
Moore was subsequently arrested and spent two nights in jail. He originally faced charges of home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering — offenses that carried penalties of up to five years in prison.
In April, Moore was sentenced to 18 months of probation with no jail time. He was also fined more than $1,000 and ordered to have no contact with Shiver and to abstain from drugs and alcohol during his probation period. The sentence came after Moore agreed to a plea deal, pleading no contest to new misdemeanor charges of malicious use of a telecommunications device and trespassing. In return, prosecutors in Washtenaw County, Michigan, dropped the earlier, more serious charges, including a third-degree felony home invasion count.
During his time leading Michigan football, Moore compiled a 16-8 record after taking over for Jim Harbaugh, under whom he had served as offensive coordinator. Both Moore and Harbaugh were also caught up in a sign-stealing controversy involving former staff member Connor Stalions during the school’s 2023 national championship season. Moore ultimately received a two-game suspension in connection with that matter.
In a separate controversy, former co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was fired on January 20, 2023, just after completing his second season on Michigan’s staff. Weiss has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of aggravated identity theft and unauthorized access to computers. His trial is currently scheduled for September.
Manuel has not been implicated in any of these scandals. Under his leadership, Michigan has captured national championships in women’s gymnastics (2021), football (2023), men’s gymnastics (2025), and men’s basketball (2026).
Harbaugh departed Michigan for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, while men’s basketball coach Dusty May left following the title run to take the head coaching position with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks in June. Former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham stepped in to replace Moore in December, and Wolverines assistant basketball coach Mike Boynton Jr. served as interim head coach before being announced Friday as the full-time head coach under a two-year contract.
