Michigan Wolverines athletic director Warde Manuel says chatter about his job safety is simply social media noise.
On Sunday, a report shared that Michigan is planning to oust Manuel at a gathering scheduled for Thursday. He pushed back on that declare on Monday night and did extra of that in a radio interview on Tuesday.
Warde Manuel dismisses job standing rumors
“I believe I have been fired by social media 3 times in my ten years right here,” Manuel instructed Michigan Insider (h/t The Athletic’s Austin Meek).
It is not simply social media that is saying Manuel’s future is doubtful. It is also well-respected media shops, together with The Wall Street Journal, which printed a bombshell report on Tuesday.
The WSJ reported that legislation agency Jenner & Block (which the college employed to analyze its athletic division) concluded that the AD and the college ignored warning indicators surrounding former soccer head coach Sherrone Moore. The program fired him in December 2025 after an investigation discovered he had an inappropriate relationship with former staffer Paige Shiver. Manuel and the college, nonetheless, reportedly knew about it properly beforehand.
“I instructed [Moore] I did not keep in mind if we had already mentioned, however that [Shiver] could not accompany him on journeys,” wrote Manuel in a word on Aug. 29, 2024, through The WSJ’s Corinne Ramey and Rachel Bachman.
This stains Michigan’s already tarnished status. The Moore scandal has been one of many underneath Manuel’s watch. The lengthy listing contains the Connor Stalions saga, during which the previous staffer was caught sign-stealing in the course of the 2023 season. In August 2025, the NCAA positioned Michigan on a four-year probation for the Stalions ordeal.
Within the wake of those issues, Michigan has been racking up authorized payments. Jenner & Block reportedly charged the college practically $12M for its probe.
This ought to be a speaking level at Thursday’s assembly. This session does not embody Manuel’s future on the agenda, however it’s being mentioned. He acknowledged talks of a possible buyout.
“I’ve 4 years left on my contract,” Manuel mentioned. “I do not know what the longer term goes to be.
“I do really feel assured within the issues that I’ve achieved right here at Michigan. I am very happy with what we completed.”
Throughout Manuel’s tenure, the Wolverines have gained nationwide championships in college football and college basketball. The scandals overshadow these accomplishments.
Former Wolverines soccer HC Bo Schembechler coined the phrase “Michigan Man.” It refers to an individual who embodies one of many college’s core values: integrity. This system has usually didn’t show it throughout Manuel’s time in Ann Arbor. Forgetting this precept is why Manuel is underneath the microscope on social media and in actual life.
