The Michigan Wolverines’ athletic director, Warde Manuel, is facing fallout for his alleged inaction in the Sherrone Moore-Paige Shiver situation. A recent report insinuated that Manuel knew of the “inappropriate relationship” between his former employees well before he took action in December 2025.

“I told him I didn’t remember if we had already discussed, but that she couldn’t accompany him on trips,” Manuel’s handwritten note dating back to August 29, 2024 read. 

Moore, the Wolverines’ former head coach, was fired following the conclusion of a disappointing 2025 season due to his involvement with his 32-year-old former executive assistant, Paige Shiver. 

On the evening of December 10, Moore, 40, confronted Shiver after his dismissal and was arrested. He was charged with third-degree home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering, per The Athletic’s report. 

On July 14, the Wall Street Journal first reported that law firm Jenner & Block shared the note written by Manuel from their recent investigation into Moore’s conduct toward Shiver.

The day he was arrested, Moore behaved violently with Shiver at her home.

“He broke into my apartment, crying, yelling, enraged, and came at me with knives,” Shiver said, according to an ESPN report. “I was threatened, and I feared for my life.”

This is a new development in the internal investigation and legal troubles Manuel has found himself in. Recently, former Wolverines assistant Chris Partridge renewed his lawsuit against the program and stated that Manuel was aware of Moore-Shiver and did nothing to protect Shiver.

“Inappropriate relationship between former head football coach Sherrone Moore and a subordinate employee for years without taking action to protect the employee,” Partridge’s lawsuit read, per CBS Sports. 

Shiver’s lawyer, Heidi Sharp, said that Moore had a “long history of domestic violence” against her client, based on the same report by The Athletic. In March this year, Moore pleaded no contest to trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device against Shiver. 

According to Ann Arbor News, the University of Michigan has no intention of releasing the note to the public. Recently, reports have emerged that the school could aim for a buyout for Manuel. 

Warde Manuel’s job and future at Michigan are at risk

On July 14, Warde Manuel commented on his tenure at the University of Michigan as its athletic director, as he is deeply embroiled in controversies. 

“The president and I have had several great conversations over the past couple of days. There are no plans for me not to continue to be the athletic director for the near future,” Manuel, 58, told Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. 

Manuel, a former Michigan football player, took over as the AD in 2016.

In 2024, he signed a contract that pays him $1.9 million in salary with retirement benefits and deferred payments that increase his annual pay to $2.4 million. He has four years left on the contract.

Recently, another one of his former employees, Chris Partridge, renewed his lawsuit against the school, which alleged that Warde knew of Sherrone Moore’s involvement with Paige Shiver.

Partridge also stated that Manuel covered up evidence of Connor Stalions’ sign-stealing scandal.

Read more at the Michigan Football Community!

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore