Athletic director Warde Manuel’s days at Michigan aren’t over yet, but after the publication of general findings from a seven-month investigation, they are officially numbered.
Manuel, who has served in his current post since Jan. 29, 2016, announced on July 20 that he will step down at the end of the calendar year, corresponding with the publication of an independent report on the athletic department’s conduct and culture.
Despite claiming numerous national championships across multiple sports during his tenure, Michigan’s athletic department has found itself beset with an unenviable degree of high-profile scandals in recent years, culminating with the termination of football head coach Sherrone Moore last year after the discovery that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with one of his staffers.
This inciting incident would lead Michigan to contract the law firm Jenner & Block for the purpose of launching an investigation “into the circumstances surrounding the conduct of Moore,” along with a cultural review of the Department of Athletics. The firm claims to have interviewed nearly 300 witnesses of varying proximity to the department, as well as following more than 90 leads generated by a hotline they disseminated to gather information.
The investigation, which reportedly cost the school north of $12 million, said the following about Manuel in the general overview of its findings.
“The culture review found that Warde Manuel demonstrated important leadership strengths, particularly his commitment to student-athletes. At the same time, it identified failures to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by athletic department employees.”
Findings from the investigation have been presented in short form, with one section addressing pending litigation as “limiting the University’s ability to discuss certain facts, evidence, investigative analysis and personnel matters.”
Currently, Michigan faces multiple legal battles, including suits filed by Paige Shiver – a former executive assistant at the center of Moore’s misconduct allegations – and Chris Partridge – a former member of the football program’s coaching staff who was implicated in the infamous sign-stealing scandal.
The university outlined several action steps it intends to implement based on the findings of the report, including “the creation of a C-suite officer for Compliance to lead the Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office and reviewing reporting relationships so Athletics Compliance has greater institutional independence” and promising to “further strengthen its commitment to student-athlete health and wellbeing by expanding access to confidential medical and mental health resources”
In response to the announcement, Manuel shared in a statement that he was “very proud of all the successes and accomplishments of our athletic department over the past 11 years,” later adding, “I will have more to say about my decision at the appropriate time. Forever, Go Blue.”
Despite the news of Manuel’s departure, Jenner & Block asserts that “neither the investigation nor the culture review found that misconduct was widespread throughout the department.”
Michigan is expected to begin its search for Manuel’s replacement as athletic director immediately.
