​Warde Manuel’s future as Michigan’s athletic director is up in the air, according to multiple reports issued late Sunday, July 12. A University of Michigan Board of Regents meeting is on the calendar for Thursday, July 16, though an agenda has not been released. Reports indicate that an announcement regarding Manuel’s tenure could come in the days ahead. The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, previously noted that senior leaders at Michigan have been briefed on Jenner & Block’s nearly $12 million investigation into the athletic department.
The probe into Manuel and the department was prompted by the firing of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore on December 10, tied to an inappropriate romantic relationship with former staff member Paige Shivers. Moore received an 18-month probation sentence and two misdemeanor counts for trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device related to the events following his dismissal. Several other charges, including a felony, were dropped.
Manuel, Michigan’s athletic director since 2016, has overseen a period marked by several high-profile controversies. These include Moore’s dismissal, the elaborate sign-stealing scheme associated with former football assistant Connor Stalions, and the stolen-identity scheme linked to former co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss, which involved unauthorized access to private videos and photos of more than 3,300 students nationwide, most of them women. Manuel signed a five-year contract extension in 2024, extending his tenure through 2030.
In recent years, Manuel has also pursued significant staffing moves within Michigan athletics. He brought in former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to step in as Moore’s replacement and elevated former top assistant Mike Boynton to the role of head coach for Men’s Basketball after Dusty May left for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Under Manuel’s leadership, Michigan has secured national championships in football and men’s basketball, along with national titles in both men’s gymnastics programs in 2025 and women’s gymnastics in 2021, respectively.
Beyond athletics, Michigan has undergone notable administrative changes. Former university president Santa Ono left Michigan to pursue the presidency at the University of Florida, though his candidacy did not advance to the final stage despite being the lone finalist. The university subsequently appointed Domenico Grasso to lead as president, beginning his tenure in 2025.
Manuel’s 2024 contract extension placed him among the highest-paid athletic directors in collegiate athletics, with compensation reaching up to $2.4 million per year and an agreement intended to keep him at Michigan through 2030. This background comes as questions about his future persist, set against the backdrop of the Jenner & Block investigation and a forthcoming Regents meeting that could determine whether he remains at the helm of Michigan athletics.