- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,209,558
- Reaction score
- 59
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel did not confirm nor deny talk of reaching a potential buyout with the university during an appearance on WTKA 1050 with Sam Webb for a previously scheduled interview Tuesday, July 14, just days after various reports stated that his job was in imminent danger and that he was in active discussion with the university on a buyout.
"I don't know what the future is going to be and how long I'll be in this position," Manuel told Webb. "I do know that I'm here today and I do know that I'm going to be here tomorrow. And I do feel confident in the things I have done here at Michigan. Not for me, not for Warde — but on behalf of the University of Michigan, our student-athletes, our coaches, our staff, our fans, our donors, to drive success with our student-athletes academically and athletically.
"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. There's no doubt about it. I'm not going to hide from that conversation that occurs. But as it relates to where things are going to go, I'm not 100% certain."
U-M's athletic director since 2016 and a former Michigan football player in the 1980's under Bo Schembechler, Manuel, 58, has been caught in the crosshairs of a Jenner & Block investigation into the culture of his athletic department.
The probe, which also looked into what he knew and when about ex-football coach Sherrone Moore's affair with his then-executive assistant Paige Shiver, was a tangentially related report. All the findings were orally presented to the board of regents, president and university attorneys last month.
Manuel was briefed separately, but a written report was not commissioned or presented, despite the nearly $12 million price tag. Michigan's board of regents is scheduled to meet on Thursday, July 16 in Traverse City, but when the agenda was released, there was no line item that implied the board was going to address Manuel's future during the public portion of the proceedings.
A U-M spokesman told the Free Press as much saying he did "not expect anything athletics related to be added ... and we do not plan to release anything [related to the Jenner & Block investigation]."
MONARREZ: Hard to see embattled Michigan AD Warde Manuel emerging unscathed
Some online had tried to characterize the meeting as a potential inflection point where Manuel would lose his job.
"I think I've been fired by social media three times in my 10 years," Manuel said. "I just move through it because, to me, it's nonsense.
"Don't believe everything that's out there in the world about what people say. I don't know what the future holds. I don't know … what's going to happen."
Manuel spoke of president Domenico Grasso, saying the two have had "great conversations" after the president called him the "best athletic director in the country" in April at Crisler Center when the U-M basketball team celebrated its national championship.
Manuel, who signed a five-year extension in December 2024, has four years left on the deal that runs thorugh 2030, which pays him more than $2 million annually. There is also a clause in his contract which states he will receive 36 months pay if he's fired with cause, unless the two sides are able to come to an agreement.
RELATED: U-M hid evidence of cheating in football, ex-coach's lawsuit says
Manuel's general handling of allegations have come into question, particularly after Moore was fired in December for what was found to be an affair, when Shiver came forward and admitted as much to Manuel. U-M had previously commissioned an internal investigation but did not find anything to support what at that point had been a well-circulated rumor.
"If there's no evidence, there's no evidence," Manuel told Webb. "All we can do is look for the evidence that exists."
As far as reports of the buyout, Manuel said he has had discussions about his future but chose to keep the specifics private, saying there has not been any decision made about when or if he may leave.
"Things are discussed along the way, but it's not taken away from me doing my job and what I need to do to help us drive success," he said. "I can't predict that. ... If it happens, it happens."
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan AD Warde Manuel on buyout rumors: 'If it happens, it happens'
Continue reading...
"I don't know what the future is going to be and how long I'll be in this position," Manuel told Webb. "I do know that I'm here today and I do know that I'm going to be here tomorrow. And I do feel confident in the things I have done here at Michigan. Not for me, not for Warde — but on behalf of the University of Michigan, our student-athletes, our coaches, our staff, our fans, our donors, to drive success with our student-athletes academically and athletically.
"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. There's no doubt about it. I'm not going to hide from that conversation that occurs. But as it relates to where things are going to go, I'm not 100% certain."
You must be registered for see images attach
U-M's athletic director since 2016 and a former Michigan football player in the 1980's under Bo Schembechler, Manuel, 58, has been caught in the crosshairs of a Jenner & Block investigation into the culture of his athletic department.
The probe, which also looked into what he knew and when about ex-football coach Sherrone Moore's affair with his then-executive assistant Paige Shiver, was a tangentially related report. All the findings were orally presented to the board of regents, president and university attorneys last month.
Manuel was briefed separately, but a written report was not commissioned or presented, despite the nearly $12 million price tag. Michigan's board of regents is scheduled to meet on Thursday, July 16 in Traverse City, but when the agenda was released, there was no line item that implied the board was going to address Manuel's future during the public portion of the proceedings.
A U-M spokesman told the Free Press as much saying he did "not expect anything athletics related to be added ... and we do not plan to release anything [related to the Jenner & Block investigation]."
MONARREZ: Hard to see embattled Michigan AD Warde Manuel emerging unscathed
Some online had tried to characterize the meeting as a potential inflection point where Manuel would lose his job.
"I think I've been fired by social media three times in my 10 years," Manuel said. "I just move through it because, to me, it's nonsense.
"Don't believe everything that's out there in the world about what people say. I don't know what the future holds. I don't know … what's going to happen."
Manuel spoke of president Domenico Grasso, saying the two have had "great conversations" after the president called him the "best athletic director in the country" in April at Crisler Center when the U-M basketball team celebrated its national championship.
Manuel, who signed a five-year extension in December 2024, has four years left on the deal that runs thorugh 2030, which pays him more than $2 million annually. There is also a clause in his contract which states he will receive 36 months pay if he's fired with cause, unless the two sides are able to come to an agreement.
RELATED: U-M hid evidence of cheating in football, ex-coach's lawsuit says
Manuel's general handling of allegations have come into question, particularly after Moore was fired in December for what was found to be an affair, when Shiver came forward and admitted as much to Manuel. U-M had previously commissioned an internal investigation but did not find anything to support what at that point had been a well-circulated rumor.
"If there's no evidence, there's no evidence," Manuel told Webb. "All we can do is look for the evidence that exists."
As far as reports of the buyout, Manuel said he has had discussions about his future but chose to keep the specifics private, saying there has not been any decision made about when or if he may leave.
"Things are discussed along the way, but it's not taken away from me doing my job and what I need to do to help us drive success," he said. "I can't predict that. ... If it happens, it happens."
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan AD Warde Manuel on buyout rumors: 'If it happens, it happens'
Continue reading...
