Warde Manuel to leave Michigan athletic director role

After a week and a half of consternation surrounding Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel and his job status, following the university receiving the Jenner and Block report looking into the culture of the AD, it appears there has been a resolution to the matter.

Last week at this time, there were questions about whether or not Manuel would last the week, with the Thursday board of regents meeting in Traverse City circled as a potential end date for the decade-long AD. However, Manuel appeared confident in numerous appearances that he would retain his role, at least for the ‘near future.’

Now, we at least know what his ‘near future’ is, as it pertains to his job security.

As first posted by ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, Manuel will step down at the year’s end, according to University of Michigan officials.

Michigan announces that AD Warde Manuel will “step down at the end of the calendar year.”

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 20, 2026

Manuel started his tenure in Ann Arbor in January 2016, replacing interim AD Jim Hackett, who had hired Jim Harbaugh after replacing Dave Brandon and then firing football head coach Brady Hoke. Manuel himself was light on scandals as the AD, but he oversaw many, including two NCAA investigations into football, Juwan Howard’s issues, Mel Pearson on the hockey side being implicated in a WilmerHale report (Manuel was reportedly slow-footed when it came to dealing with that), and more.

He also served on the College Football Playoff selection committee and was briefly its chair for one season.

More on this story as it develops.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Warde Manuel to leave Michigan athletic director role