Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is set to receive a $7 million buyout after stepping down from his position, according to an exclusive report from The Detroit News. The report states Manuel, who will leave his position at the end of the year, will receive the payment within 21 days of his resignation under the terms of his contract.
In a statement obtained by The Detroit News, Manuel reflected on his tenure.
“I am very proud of all the successes and accomplishments of our athletic department over the past 11 years,” Manuel said in the statement. “We have tremendous coaches and professionals who support our outstanding student athletes every day. 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. Forever, Go Blue.”
Manuel served as Michigan’s athletic director since January 2016. During the final years of his tenure, the athletic department faced several high-profile controversies, including the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal, the firing of football coach Sherrone Moore and the felony charges filed against former assistant coach Matt Weiss.
Warde Manuel to step down as Michigan AD following independent investigation
The university commissioned an independent investigation conducted by Jenner & Block and released a statement following the completion of the review. It read in part:
“At the same time, the culture review identified three overarching areas for improvement:
Leadership accountability: Ensuring leadership at all levels consistently follows through when misconduct is identified.
Organizational structure: Addressing weaknesses in investigations, human resources, compliance, and oversight.
Reporting culture: Reducing barriers to reporting concerns and fostering an environment where employees and student-athletes feel comfortable raising issues.”
The report found that while Manuel demonstrated important leadership skills, he failed to quickly and effectively respond to allegations of wrongdoing involving athletic department employees.
While executive buyouts are common in college athletics, the reported $7 million payment is likely to draw attention because it comes after an investigation that identified shortcomings in the athletic department’s leadership.
