Report: Warde Manuel OUT as Michigan Athletic Director

The future of Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel appears to be in serious doubt.

According to Justin Spiro, the University of Michigan is negotiating the terms of Manuel’s departure, with an official announcement potentially coming as soon as this week.

While the university has not officially announced any change, multiple reports suggest Manuel’s status will be a major topic of discussion during this week’s Board of Regents meeting.

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The speculation began Sunday when Spiro reported that Michigan had already decided to move on from Manuel and was working through the details of his exit.

Soon afterward, Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that Manuel’s job status is expected to be discussed during the Board of Regents meeting scheduled for Thursday. While Dellenger did not report that Manuel had been fired, his reporting added credibility to the growing speculation surrounding Michigan’s athletic director.

If a change is ultimately made, an official announcement could come sometime this week.

The reports come months after Michigan fired former head football coach Sherrone Moore for cause following an investigation into an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.

In the aftermath of Moore’s dismissal, the university commissioned Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block to conduct a broader review of the athletic department’s culture and its handling of the original investigation.

The findings of that review have not yet been publicly released, although ESPN’s Dan Wetzel has reported that the results are expected to become public this week.

Some observers believe the timing of the investigation and the Board of Regents meeting could be more than coincidental, though no official connection has been confirmed.

Manuel has served as Michigan’s athletic director since 2016, overseeing one of the nation’s most successful athletic departments.

During his tenure, Michigan has celebrated national championships, Big Ten titles, and numerous postseason appearances across multiple sports.

At the same time, the athletic department has also dealt with several high-profile controversies, including:

• The Connor Stallions sign-stealing scandal.

• NCAA recruiting violations involving Jim Harbaugh during the COVID-19 dead period.

• The firing of former hockey coach Mel Pearson.

• The recent Sherrone Moore investigation.

The Connor Stallions sign-stealing scandal.

NCAA recruiting violations involving Jim Harbaugh during the COVID-19 dead period.

The firing of former hockey coach Mel Pearson.

The recent Sherrone Moore investigation.

Whether those issues ultimately play a role in Manuel’s future remains unknown.

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At this point, it’s important to note that Michigan has not announced Warde Manuel’s departure, and Manuel remains the university’s athletic director.

However, with multiple national reporters indicating his future is uncertain and the Board of Regents expected to meet this week, the situation is one Michigan fans will be watching closely over the coming days.

If the reports prove accurate, Michigan could soon be searching for new leadership atop one of college athletics’ premier departments.