Michigan AD Warde Manuel Resigns Amid Investigation Fallout

WHO:

TMZ - Warde Manuel is the athletic director of the University of Michigan.

ESPN - Domenico Grasso is the president of the University of Michigan.

ESPN - Sherrone Moore is a former football coach at the University of Michigan.

ESPN - Paige Shiver is a staff member involved in the Sherrone Moore incident.

WHAT:

AP News - The University of Michigan and Warde Manuel have agreed to a buyout of the remaining three years on his contract.

AP News - The investigation into the athletic department interviewed nearly 300 people and reviewed over 20,000 documents.

AP News - The athletic department has an annual budget of about $250 million, 29 teams, 950-plus athletes, and about 400 staff members.

AP News - The university plans to conduct a national search for a new athletic director.

AP News - Potential candidates for the new athletic director position include Joe Parker, Diane Dietz, and Katie Fraumann.

ESPN - The independent investigation into the athletic department concluded that issues were not "widespread" but identified failures to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by Athletic Department employees.

CBS Sports - The university will implement reforms including strengthening the independence, visibility, and authority of its compliance function and hiring an "Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office."

The New York Times - The university will also implement mandatory coach training on student-athlete mental health, nutrition, and eating disorders.

CBS Sports - The investigation into the athletic department has cost nearly $12 million to date.

CBS Sports - The university will implement several reforms, including revising procedures for investigating and escalating allegations of misconduct.

CBS Sports - Manuel was fired on December 10 after evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Moore and a subordinate staff member was brought to the department that morning.

CBS Sports - Moore was charged with felony home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering.

CBS Sports - Paige Shiver, the former executive assistant, claims she endured "years of manipulation, harassment and exploitation" from Moore.

NY Post - The Michigan athletic department has won a national title in football in 2023.

ESPN - The investigation into the athletic department has cost nearly $12 million to date.

ESPN - The review identified "serious concerns that require immediate action," including failures of accountability and weaknesses in reporting.

The New York Times - The investigation did not find "direct, contemporaneous evidence" of misconduct by current athletic department employees prior to Moore's firing.

The New York Times - Moore was sentenced to 18 months of probation following his plea deal.

The New York Times - The university plans to implement mandatory coach training on student-athlete mental health, nutrition, and eating disorders.

NY Post - The University of Michigan's athletic department won a national title in basketball in 2026.

ESPN - The review identified "a series of structural, policy, and operational recommendations designed to strengthen accountability and organizational effectiveness."

ESPN - The university plans to hire an "Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office" to enhance oversight.

ESPN - The university will strengthen background checks as part of its compliance measures.

TMZ - Warde Manuel is stepping down as athletic director at the end of the year.

NY Post - The investigation into the athletic department has cost nearly $12 million.

ESPN - The independent investigation concluded that misconduct was not "widespread" in the athletic department.

ESPN - Manuel's contract was set to pay him about $2.4 million annually through 2030.

ESPN - Manuel stated he is proud of the successes of the athletic department over the past 11 years.

WHERE:

TMZ - The investigation pertains to the University of Michigan's athletic department.

WHEN:

ESPN - The investigation was launched in late 2025.

ESPN - Sherrone Moore was fired in December 2025.

ESPN - Matt Weiss is scheduled to stand trial in September 2026.

WHY:

CBS Sports - President Domenico Grasso stated that the investigation revealed "serious concerns that require immediate action," including failures in accountability and weaknesses in reporting and support systems.

CBS Sports - Shiver's lawyers stated she "believes strongly that she may not be the only person who experienced inappropriate, coercive, or predatory behavior" from Moore.

ESPN - President Domenico Grasso noted "serious concerns that require immediate action" regarding the culture and conduct of the athletic department.

ESPN - The investigation was initiated following the firing of Sherrone Moore for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.

ESPN - The review identified weaknesses in accountability, organizational structure, oversight, and reporting within the athletic department.

HOW:

CBS Sports - The university has declined to release the full findings of the $12 million investigation, citing attorney-client privilege.

CBS Sports - Chris Partridge, a former Michigan employee, alleges that evidence of the sign-stealing operation was discovered by Manuel and former president Santa Ono but was never reported to the NCAA.

ESPN - The University of Michigan hired the Chicago law firm Jenner & Block to conduct the investigation.

ESPN - The university plans to strengthen its compliance function and hire an "Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office."

The University of Michigan has reached an agreement with Warde Manuel to buy out the remaining three years of his contract as athletic director. This decision follows an extensive investigation into the athletic department, which interviewed nearly 300 people and reviewed over 20,000 documents. The university plans to conduct a national search for a new athletic director, with potential candidates including Joe Parker, Diane Dietz, and Katie Fraumann.