Michigan AD Warde Manuel Stepping Down After Sherrone Moore Investigation

Univ. Of Michigan's Warde Manuel Leaving AD Job ... Stepping Down At End Of Year Published July 20, 2026 8:49 AM PDT Warde Manuel's days at the helm of the University of Michigan athletic department are numbered ... the AD is stepping down at the end of the year after a massive investigation into the Sherrone Moore scandal. "Today, I am announcing that Warde Manuel has told me that he would like to step down," Michigan President Domenico Grasso announced, before thanking the longtime administrator. "I have the deepest respect for Warde and his countless contributions to Michigan and have asked him to stay on until the end of the calendar year." Manuel’s exit comes just days after a bombshell independent investigation criticized him for being too slow to crack down on allegations of wrongdoing inside his department. The 350-interview, 20,000-page document probe -- which has reportedly already run the university around $12 million -- was sparked by Moore’s relationship with Paige Shiver and his firing. But it wasn’t all bad. Manuel -- Athletic Director since January 2016 -- was praised for his strong commitment to the student-athletes and for delivering national championships in both football and men’s basketball to Ann Arbor. Michigan now says it'll launch a national search for a new athletic director ... who will be tasked with cleaning up the mess left behind from the Moore scandal. Related articles Warde Manuel Sherrone Moore Paige Shiver Sports Michigan Football College Football Scandal Scandals TMZ Sports Breaking News