Warde Manuel will step down as University of Michigan's athletic director at the end of the calendar year following an internal investigation into the athletic department's culture. The probe, conducted by outside law firm Jenner & Block at a cost of $12 million, identified leadership weaknesses rather than widespread misconduct.
The investigation's findings stated that while Manuel demonstrated strengths in his commitment to student-athletes, the department experienced "failures to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by Athletic Department employees." The university's summary of the investigation indicated 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."
Manuel, who took over as athletic director in 2016, oversaw a period of significant athletic success for Michigan, including national titles in football in 2023 and basketball in 2026. However, his tenure was also marked by several scandals. These included a "sign stealing" scandal involving former head football coach Jim Harbaugh and staffer Connor Stalions, the indictment of former offensive coordinator Matt Weiss on federal cybercrime charges, and the firing and subsequent arrest of Harbaugh's replacement, Sherrone Moore, for an inappropriate relationship and misuse of telecommunication devices.
Michigan's interim president, Domenico Grasso, described the findings as "unacceptable" and outlined the university's commitment to improving the athletics department. Plans include a national search for Manuel's replacement, hiring an "Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office," and strengthening the accountability and independence of the Athletics human resources department.
Speculation about Manuel's future with the university began to surface last week when reports emerged of a meeting by the board of regents to discuss the athletic director. The specific details of the $12 million investigation report have not been publicly released.