After the Sherrone Moore-Paige Shiver incident marred his stint, Warde Manuel is stepping down from the post of the University of Michigan’s athletic director. He issued a statement and revealed a new development. 

“I am happy President Grasso asked me to stay on to work with him to implement the recommendations for continuous improvement. I promise everyone I will have more to say about my decision at the appropriate time,” On3’s Brett McMurphy posted on X. 

Manuel, 58, had also praised the program for its achievements during his tenure and acknowledged the coaching department’s hand in it. 

“I am very proud of all the successes and accomplishments of our athletic department over the past 11 years. We have tremendous coaches and professionals who support our outstanding student-athletes every day,” McMurphy reported further.

Warde was under fire for his role in the university’s major controversies involving the football department. In December 2025, the Michigan Wolverines’ former head coach, Sherrone Moore, was fired midseason after his involvement with former staffer Paige Shiver came to light.

On the evening of December 10, Moore was arrested on misdemeanor charges, including a felony, filed against him. 

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

While Manuel had maintained he did not know of their “inappropriate relationship” before, a lawsuit by another former Wolverines coach challenged the notion. Former Wolverines assistant Chris Partridge alleged that he and former school president Santa Ono were well-aware of it.

“...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 a July 14 CBS Sports report.

As Manuel steps aside, the university faces a broader reckoning. Michigan is on the lookout for a new athletic director for the first time since it hired Manuel in 2016. 

His tenure saw some significant controversies, and an investigation by a law firm found a lack of leadership.

Investigation reveals systemic failures in department culture under Warde Manuel

Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block conducted a university-authorized “culture review” that was part of the seven-month-long internal investigation. In a video message, President Domenico Grasso revealed what they found.

“The broader cultural review has identified serious concerns that require immediate action. These include failures in accountability, structural deficiencies, weaknesses in our reporting and support systems, and concerns about retaliation,” Grasso said on July 20, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. 

The program has not released any documents from the investigation. Another report by the Detroit News revealed that misconduct, not “widespread”, was not dealt with “consistently, promptly, or in accordance with University expectations.” 

Warde will continue as the athletic director till the end of this year, per reports. His departure will bring an end to a tenure with on-field success and muddy dynamics behind the curtains. 

Read more at the Michigan Football Community!

Written by

Akanksha Biradar