University of Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel will step down from his position at the end of the calendar year, the school announced Monday, following the findings of a months-long internal investigation into the culture and leadership of the athletics department. The investigation, conducted by the law firm Jenner & Block at a cost of approximately $12 million, identified three overarching areas needing improvement: leadership accountability, organizational structure, and reporting culture. While Michigan declined to make the full findings public, a basic overview released Monday noted that the review specifically identified failures by Manuel to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by athletic department employees.
Manuel’s departure comes amid mounting controversy surrounding his tenure, which began in 2016. The investigation expanded from fallout related to the Sherrone Moore scandal after Moore was fired on December 10 when evidence surfaced of an inappropriate relationship between him and a subordinate staff member. Moore was arrested later that same day after entering the home of Paige Shiver, his former executive assistant, and was charged with felony home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering. Shiver has since filed suit against the university, claiming she endured years of manipulation and harassment and that Michigan failed to protect her. Her attorney, Andrew Stroth, criticized the university’s decision to withhold details of the investigation, telling CBS Sports that more information has come from leaked reports than from the summary issued by the school.
Further complicating matters, former Michigan assistant coach Chris Partridge alleged in an amended lawsuit earlier this month that both Manuel and former university president Santa Ono discovered evidence of the Connor Stalions sign-stealing operation as far back as January 2023 but never reported it to the NCAA or the board of regents. The lawsuit also claims Ono instructed employees, including Manuel, not to take notes related to that investigation to avoid possible disclosure. Partridge, now with the Seattle Seahawks, is suing the university and several officials, arguing he was made the scapegoat for the sign-stealing scandal.
In a statement released Monday, Manuel said he was very proud of all the successes and accomplishments during his eleven years leading the department and that he would have more to say about his decision at the appropriate time. His tenure will be remembered as one of the most accomplished yet turbulent stretches in school history, marked by national championships across multiple sports including football’s return to prominence and a basketball title, but also shadowed by NCAA investigations, coaching controversies, and growing questions about institutional oversight. University president Domenico Grasso confirmed in a video message to students and faculty that the reviews have concluded but said the university does not plan to release associated documents or make additional public statements at this time.
