The future of Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel suddenly looks very shaky, with multiple reports pointing to a decision that could come out of Thursday’s University of Michigan Board of Regents meeting.
Pete Nakos of On3 reported that the regents are scheduled to meet Thursday and that Manuel’s future is expected to be among the topics discussed. Ross Dellenger then added that the “future of Manuel is in doubt.” Both reports cited Justin Spiro as the first to say a decision had been made and that buyout negotiations were underway.
The backdrop here is the University of Michigan’s decision to hire a law firm and spend $12 million on a report tied to the athletic department after the Sherrone Moore scandal. That investigation appears to be reaching a turning point, and Manuel is now being linked to the fallout.
The Moore situation was ugly. He had an affair with Paige Shiver, a subordinate. He was fired in December when it came to light, and was arrested later the same day after an altercation at her home.
For now, the sense is that this development is about accountability rather than broader sanctions for the athletic department. Still, the reports suggest more details are coming, and that they are unlikely to reflect well on Manuel.
The timing has only added to the intrigue. Mike Boynton was just given a two-year deal on Friday, removing the interim tag, while Kyle Whittingham was hired back in December, soon after Moore was fired. Both moves were viewed as solid hires, but they do not appear to have changed whatever was uncovered in the athletic department investigation.
Dusty May’s recent departure for the Dallas Mavericks has also led some to wonder whether it was connected in any way to this report.
Michigan fans have heard the whispers for months, so this news does not come out of nowhere. Manuel had seemed like a candidate to survive the report, even though it still has not been released publicly.
He has overseen two Michigan national championships, with the Wolverines winning the college football title after the 2023 season and the NCAA men’s basketball championship in the 2025-26 season.
If Manuel is indeed out, Michigan would likely need to move quickly on an interim athletic director while sorting out the long-term direction of the department. The school appears headed for a major leadership reset.
In Other News...
Michigans Scandal Mess Just Took Another Ugly Turn
The fallout from Michigans sign-stealing scandal has moved into a new legal phase, with former football assistant Chris Partridge filing a federal wrongful termination lawsuit against the university and several of its top officials. The suit names former president Santa Ono and athletic director Warde Manuel, adding another layer to a mess that has already stretched well beyond the field and into the schools leadership ranks.
Partridges filing does more than challenge the decision to cut ties with him. It points to a broader internal web of issues, including claims that evidence tied to the sign-stealing matter surfaced on former assistant Matt Weisss computer and that an unnamed assistant later contacted Paige Shivers family in December, pushing them to speak publicly. For Michigan, the case threatens to keep the scandal in the headlines while raising fresh questions about who knew what, and when. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans AD Chaos Just Made Michigan States Mess Look Better
Michigans athletic department has spent plenty of time under a microscope, and the latest swirl around Warde Manuel only adds to the sense that things keep getting messier across the state line. Even before any formal announcement, the timing is awkward for a department that has already been forced to navigate one controversy after another, while also trying to steady its basketball program after Dusty Mays departure.
For Michigan State, the comparison is hard to miss. The Spartans have had their own athletic director changes to manage, but the chaos around Michigan has made their situation look a lot more orderly by contrast, especially as Manuels recent move to remove the interim tag from Mike Boynton Jr. now sits in the middle of a much bigger institutional shakeup. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Fans Suddenly Have A Huge Jon Palumbo Question
Michigan States athletic department has turned to Jon Palumbo as interim athletic director, a move that keeps him in place as CEO of Spartan Ventures while giving the school a steady hand at the top of its athletics operation. Palumbo brings a long background in athletic administration and has spent time at several universities, with a rsum that includes donor cultivation and facility work, both of which matter plenty in East Lansing as the department looks to keep momentum in those areas.
What makes the hire especially interesting is how closely Palumbos path overlaps with J Batts. The two have crossed paths at multiple stops and both have deep experience in major gifts, which suggests MSU is leaning into a familiar profile as it sorts out its next move. For now, the interim label is the headline, but the bigger question around campus is whether strong performance in the role could eventually make this more than a temporary arrangement. [Read more 🡒]