Warde Manuel is resigning from his position as the University of Michigan's athletic director by the end of the calendar year. This decision follows a costly internal review that cited leadership failures regarding employee misconduct.
The $12 million price tag for the Jenner & Block probe
The University of Michigan commissioned an extensive investigation into its athletic department's culture, a process that cost the institution $12 million. Conducted by the outside law firm Jenner & Block, the probe did not find evidence of systemic misconduct or a widespread culture of toxicity. Instead, the findings centered on administrative negligence.
According to the report, the primary issue was a series of "failures to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by Athletic Department employees." While the review noted that Warde Manuel demonstrated a strong commitment to student-athletes, it highlighted critical gaps in oversight, reporting, and organizational structure that allowed misconduct to persist without consistent discipline.
A tenure defined by Connor Stalions and Matt Weiss
Warde Manuel's leadership since 2016 was a study in contradictions, blending elite competitive success with recurring legal and ethical crises. The University of Michigan athletic department celebrated a national football championship in 2023 and, as the report notes, a men's basketball title in 2026. However, these accolades were frequently overshadowed by administrative instability.
The department's reputation was severely damaged by a 2023 sign-stealing scandal involving former staffer Connor Stalions, which led to a three-game suspension for then-head coach Jim Harbaugh. This was followed by former offensive coordinator Matt Weiss facing 24 federal cybercrime charges. Most recently, a staff member named Paige Shiver was arrested for trespassing and the malicious use of a telecommunications device, further straining the department's credibility.
Domenico Grasso's plan for an Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office
Interim President Domenico Grasso has labeled the findings of the Jenner & Block investigation as "unacceptable." Grasso stated that the University of Michigan has "significant work ahead" to ensure the athletics program becomes a model of ethical excellence as well as competitive success.
To rectify these leadership failures, the University of Michigan is launching a national search for a new athletic director.. Additionally, the university will establish a dedicated "Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office" and implement changes to strengthen the independence and accountability of the Athletics human resources function.
The missing details of the non-public board report
Despite the announcement of Warde Manuel's resignation, the University of Michigan has not publicly released the full details of the Jenner & Block report.. This leaves several critical questions unanswered, most notably the specific nature of the "allegations of wrongdoing" that the administration failed to address promptly.
It remains unclear which specific employees were involved in the overlooked misconduct and whether any other disciplinary actions will follow Manuel's exit. As ESPN reported, the board of regents met last week to discuss the future of the athletic director before the resignation was finalized.
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