Over the weekend, reports began to circulate that the University of Michigan would be parting ways with athletics director Warde Manuel according to anonymous sources.
Manuel, 58, has led the Wolverines athletics department for over a decade with multiple teams winning national and Big Ten Conference championships. It has not come without controversy, most recently former football coach Sherrone Moore’s affair and arrest.
The reports state that the university has been negotiating a buyout with Manuel, and the talks are related to the results of an investigation into the Wolverines’ culture under his leadership due to release this week.
Manuel joined Sam Webb of The Michigan Inside on Big 1050 WTKA Tuesday morning, telling listeners not to believe everything they read on social media while confirming he doesn’t “know what the future holds.”
“I don’t know, Sam, I think I’ve been fired by social media three times in my 10 years here. I, you know, I just moved through it, man, because to me it’s nonsense. And it affects, more importantly, it affects my staff and my family in the way that things get put out.”
Manuel didn’t deny the rumors that buyout talks have happened, but said it’s been over a period of about seven months and not just recently. He reiterated that he has four years remaining on his contract.
“Sam, I’ve had several conversations over the last six or seven months about the future and things that have happened and different opportunities and different ways that things could go,” he said. “There’s no doubt about it. I’m not gonna hide from that conversation that occurs. But as it relates to where things are gonna go, I’m not 100% certain yet. And so, part of this is those conversations happen. Things are discussed along the way.”
The conversation with Webb lasted for more than an hour and can be watched in full below.
