Michigan’s athletic department may be headed for a leadership shakeup, and Warde Manuel’s status is suddenly in serious question.
A University of Michigan Board of Regents meeting is scheduled for Thursday, and multiple reports say Manuel’s future is expected to be part of the discussion. Pete Nakos of On3 reported that the meeting is set to address the athletic director’s position, while Ross Dellenger said the “future of Manuel is in doubt.”
Both reporters cited Justin Spiro as the first to break the news. Spiro said a decision has already been made and that negotiations are underway on a buyout. Rumors about Manuel had also started circulating earlier on X from Michigan accounts.
The uncertainty comes after Michigan hired a law firm and paid $12 million for a report on the athletic department following the Sherrone Moore scandal. The situation appears to be reaching a turning point, with Manuel now being held accountable for what happened while Moore was Michigan’s football head coach.
Moore had an affair with Paige Shiver, a subordinate. He was fired in December after the relationship came to light, and he was arrested later that same day after an altercation at her home.
At this point, it does not appear the fallout means sanctions for the athletic department, but more details are expected to surface, and they are not likely to reflect well on Manuel.
The timing is notable, too. Mike Boynton was just given a two-year deal on Friday, removing the interim tag, and Kyle Whittingham was hired back in December, soon after Moore was fired.
Those moves were viewed as solid hires, but they apparently did not erase whatever was uncovered in the investigation into Michigan’s athletic department. Dusty May’s recent departure for the Dallas Mavericks has also led some to wonder whether there was any connection to this report.
For Michigan fans, the rumors are hardly a shock. Manuel’s name has been linked to speculation for months, and at one point it seemed possible he might survive the report, which still has not been made public.
Manuel has overseen two Michigan national championships as athletic director. The Wolverines won the college football national title after the 2023 season, then followed that by capturing the NCAA men’s basketball championship in the 2025-26 season.
If Manuel is out, Michigan would likely move quickly to name an interim athletic director. Either way, the school appears to be entering a major transition, and it has plenty of work ahead to stabilize things long term.
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