Michigan AD Warde Manuel to step down at end of calendar year

Key Points:

• Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel will step down at the end of 2026 after leading the department for over a decade, a period marked by national championships but also multiple scandals and NCAA violations.
• An independent investigation into the athletic department's culture found that misconduct was not widespread but highlighted weaknesses in accountability, oversight, and reporting that allowed issues to go unaddressed.
• The university's president Domenico Grasso criticized structural deficiencies and failures in leadership oversight, promising immediate action to improve compliance, reporting systems, and background checks.
• Manuel was praised for his commitment to student-athletes but was also noted for delays in addressing employee misconduct; he will assist with implementing recommended reforms following his departure.
• The investigation and related scandals, including NCAA penalties and legal issues involving football staff, have cost nearly $12 million, with the university pledging to enhance institutional accountability and compliance functions.