Warde Manuel, the director of athletics at the University of Michigan, will receive a $7 million buyout upon his departure at the end of the calendar year. His resignation follows an investigation into the culture of the athletic department, which began in December.
The probe, conducted by a law firm hired by the university, uncovered issues related to leadership within the department. Manuel served as Michigan's AD for 12 years.
The investigation was prompted in part by scandals involving former football coach Sherrone Moore, who had an inappropriate relationship with staff member Paige Shiver. Moore was fired in December after the relationship was revealed. He was later arrested and agreed to a plea deal in March, avoiding a trial and more serious charges. Moore pleaded no contest to malicious use of a telecommunication device in a domestic relationship and trespassing.
University president Domenico Grasso stated that while Moore was terminated, the university was determined to ascertain if other employees required disciplinary action. Investigators did not find direct, contemporaneous evidence linking current employees to Moore's relationship. However, the broader review of the department's culture identified "serious concerns that require immediate action," including failures in accountability, structural deficiencies, and weaknesses in reporting and support systems, along with concerns about retaliation.
Michigan acknowledged Manuel's leadership strengths, particularly his commitment to student-athletes, but also identified "failures to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by Athletic Department employees."
Manuel is set to receive the buyout payment within 21 days of his resignation.