An internal investigation at the University of Michigan has challenged the longevity of athletic director Warde Manuel's job. Surrounded by conflict, he has made a statement on his future at Michigan. 

“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 told Yahoo Sports, per Ross Dellenger. 

Manuel's statement comes as a renewed lawsuit by former Wolverines assistant Chris Partridge alleges Manuel and former school president Santa Ono hid the evidence in Connor Stalions’ sign-stealing scandal. 

The NCAA found Connor Stalions, a former Michigan staffer, responsible for a massive off-campus scouting and sign-stealing scheme between 2021 and 2023. Ono and Manuel had reportedly found the evidence as part of an investigation of former Michigan assistant Matthew Weiss in January 2023. 

In 2025, Weiss was charged with 24 crimes varying in nature. 

“[They] included 14 counts of unauthorized access to computers and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft, for allegedly hacking into accounts of female athletes and stealing private photographs,” CBS Sports reported on July 14. 

The sign-stealing scandal made national headlines during the 2023 resulting in the Big Ten’s intervention. The then-head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for three games.

Beyond the sign-stealing cover-up, Partridge also alleged that Michigan leaders knew about Sherrone Moore's "inappropriate relationship" with his staffer.

Former coach alleges athletics department held knowledge of Sherrone Moore’s relationship

Chris Partridge’s lawsuit has alleged the University of Michigan of serious inaction regarding a sensitive matter.

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

Sherrone Moore, the former football head coach, was fired in December 2025 because of his involvement with Paige Shiver, his former staff member. On the evening of December 10, authorities arrested Moore for his actions toward Shiver.

“He broke into my apartment, crying, yelling, enraged, and came at me with knives,” Shiver said per an April 15 ESPN report. “I was threatened, and I feared for my life.”

Authorities filed multiple charges against Moore, including a felony count of third-degree home invasion alongside misdemeanors.

According to the New York Times, after Moore’s arrest, Shiver’s lawyer, Heidi Sharp, said that Moore had a “long history of domestic violence” against Shiver. 

In March, Moore pleaded no contest to trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device against Shiver in exchange for dropping felony and other charges. 

Read more at the Michigan Football Community!

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore