Michigan AD Warde Manuel Pursues Stability Amid Championships and Scandals

At the Big Ten spring meetings, athletic director Warde Manuel said his primary goal is to provide steadiness for staff, student-athletes, and the university after recent successes and controversies.

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Michigan earned three straight Big Ten football titles, a national football championship, and in April its first men’s basketball national championship since 1989. The period also saw a signal-stealing scandal involving former staffer Connor Stalions, a federal indictment of former assistant Matt Weiss, and the December firing and arrest of football coach Sherrone Moore for an alleged inappropriate relationship. In August, the NCAA imposed probation, penalties over $20 million, show-cause orders for Stalions and former head coach Jim Harbaugh, and a suspension for Moore.

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Key figures include AD Warde Manuel (since Jan 2016), former staffer Connor Stalions, former assistant Matt Weiss (indicted on 14 unauthorized-access and 10 identity-theft counts), former coach Sherrone Moore (fired and arrested in December), former head coach Jim Harbaugh (subject to NCAA show-cause), and interim president Domenico Grasso (overseeing a law-firm cultural review). Highlights: Jan 2016 – Manuel hired; three straight Big Ten football titles and a national football championship; April – men’s basketball title; August – NCAA sanctions; December – Moore’s dismissal and arrest; March – Weiss indictment; December – law-firm review commissioned; February 2026 – Manuel addresses Big Ten spring meetings and CFP expansion.

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Michigan’s record includes three consecutive Big Ten football titles, one national football championship, and one men’s basketball championship (first since 1989). NCAA penalties exceed $20 million. The Weiss indictment contains 14 unauthorized-access counts and 10 identity-theft counts, affecting thousands of athletes’ private accounts.

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Manuel said his leadership aims to “limit the impact” of negative incidents while preserving success, crediting his parents and former coach Bo Schembechler for his approach and expressing pride in recent achievements. Interim president Domenico Grasso announced a law-firm review that will “leave no stone unturned,” noting possible further staff changes. Manuel added that a 24-team College Football Playoff would not diminish the value of rivalry games such as Michigan-Ohio State.

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NCAA sanctions, legal actions, and internal reviews threaten the program’s reputation and finances. Manuel argues that an expanded playoff could raise the stakes of late-season games, preserving traditional rivalry value. Ongoing compliance and cultural reforms will determine Michigan’s capacity to maintain athletic excellence and institutional integrity.

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• “I always aim for steadiness, believe me,” — Warde Manuel, Athletic Director

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• “We deal with it, and we learn from it, and we get better, and that's what I've always tried to do,” — Warde Manuel, Athletic Director

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• “I can't envision a world where that would happen,” — Warde Manuel, Athletic Director

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• “leave no stone unturned” — Domenico Grasso, Interim University President

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