The University of Michigan confirmed Monday that Athletic Director Warde Manuel will be leaving his role at the end of the calendar year, with the school set to launch a search for his replacement.
The departure comes in the wake of two significant misconduct investigations tied to the Wolverines’ football program. Former head coach Sherrone Moore was fired in December 2025 after it was discovered he had an impermissible relationship with a female staff member, and his predecessor Jim Harbaugh was entangled in a sign-stealing controversy during the program’s 2023 national championship run.
A university spokesperson shared the news with The Detroit News, saying: “At this time, the university does not have additional public statements planned regarding these matters, nor does the university plan to release any associated documents. We can confirm, however, that Director of Athletics Warde Manuel will step down at the end of the calendar year and a search for a new AD will be conducted.”
University president Domenico Grasso announced Monday that an independent law firm, Jenner & Block LLP, had wrapped up a “culture review” of the athletic department. That review involved close to 350 interviews with 300 witnesses and an examination of more than 20,000 documents.
The school released a statement summarizing the findings: “The culture review found that weaknesses in accountability, organizational structure, oversight, and reporting created conditions in which misconduct was not always addressed consistently, promptly, or in accordance with University expectations.”
The review also noted that while Manuel showed genuine strengths — particularly in his dedication to student-athletes — he fell short when it came to acting quickly and decisively on allegations of wrongdoing by staff members within the athletic department.
Despite the controversies, Manuel’s tenure, which began in 2016, included notable athletic success. Michigan captured national championships in football in 2023, men’s basketball in the 2025-26 season, women’s gymnastics in 2021, and men’s gymnastics in 2025. Manuel, 58, had received a five-year contract extension in December 2024 worth a base salary of $1.9 million annually, a deal that was set to run through 2030.
The situation surrounding Moore was particularly serious. He was fired for cause on December 10 after being found to have maintained a long-running relationship with his then-executive assistant, Paige Shiver. On the day of his firing, Moore allegedly went to Shiver’s apartment, where she told authorities he forced his way in, grabbed two butter knives, and cornered her.
Moore was taken into custody and spent two nights behind bars. He originally faced charges of home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering — offenses that carried potential prison sentences of up to five years.
In April, Moore was sentenced to 18 months of probation with no jail time. He was also fined more than $1,000 and prohibited from contacting Shiver or using drugs or alcohol during his probation period. The sentence came after a plea deal in which Moore entered a no-contest plea to reduced misdemeanor charges of malicious use of a telecommunications device and trespassing. Prosecutors in Washtenaw County, Michigan, then dropped the original charges, which had included third-degree felony home invasion.
On the field, Moore had compiled a 16-8 record at Michigan after taking over from Harbaugh, under whom he had served as offensive coordinator. Both coaches were caught up in the sign-stealing scandal involving former staff member Connor Stalions during the 2023 championship season. Moore ultimately received a two-game suspension as a result.
A separate scandal also loomed over the program. Former co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was fired on January 20, 2023, after completing his second season on Michigan’s staff. Weiss has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of aggravated identity theft and unauthorized computer access. His trial is currently scheduled for September.
Meanwhile, Harbaugh departed Michigan for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, and men’s basketball coach Dusty May left following the team’s championship run to take the head coaching job with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks in June.
