ANN ARBOR, MI (WTVB) – University of Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel will step down at the end of the 2026 calendar year, concluding a decade-long tenure marked by both historic athletic triumphs and high-profile controversies.
The university announced the decision on Monday following a comprehensive, $12 million independent culture review conducted by the law firm Jenner & Block.
The investigation was initially launched after the firing of head football coach Sherrone Moore for cause due to an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. While the review concluded that misconduct was not widespread across the athletic department, it explicitly cited failures under Manuel’s leadership to address allegations of employee wrongdoing with appropriate urgency and consistency.
In the wake of the announcement, University President Domenico Grasso confirmed that Manuel has agreed to a buyout of his contract, which originally extended through 2030. Although a national search for a new athletic director will begin immediately, Manuel will remain with the university through December as a special advisor to help implement the structural and policy reforms recommended in the report.
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