Story perspectives

Michigan AD Manuel to Resign 2026, $2.3 M Buyout

7/20/2026

Summary

Grasso Announces Resignation

University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso announced Athletic Director Warde Manuel will resign at the end of 2026 and serve as a special advisor.
A $12 million Jenner & Block review of 300 interviews and 20,000 records found no widespread misconduct but noted accountability and oversight flaws.
Michigan will buy out the remaining three years of Manuel’s 2024 extension—$1.9 million salary plus $350,000 deferred—and start a national search for his replacement.

Summary

Michigan Athletics Overhaul

The university will create a C-suite compliance officer and an Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office to increase athletics compliance independence.
Athletics HR will be restructured with hiring, onboarding practices and a discipline policy.
Coaches will receive training on mental health, nutrition and eating-disorder awareness while services expand.
Michigan is exploring a U-M Athletics Board like the U-M Health Board.
An implementation plan with milestones, timelines and accountability measures will guide reforms.

History

Historical Context

Investigations into booster Ed Martin’s $616,000 loans to four Michigan players in the 1990s culminated in self-imposed penalties in 2002 and NCAA acceptance on May 8 2003, which vacated the 1992-93 Final Four runs and added two-year probation. In response, the university created a C-suite compliance officer, an ethics office, and a Regents-appointed athletics board to tighten oversight and protect its reputation and federal funding.

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Grasso Announces Resignation

University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso announced Athletic Director Warde Manuel will resign at the end of 2026 and serve as a special advisor.
A $12 million Jenner & Block review of 300 interviews and 20,000 records found no widespread misconduct but noted accountability and oversight flaws.
Michigan will buy out the remaining three years of Manuel’s 2024 extension—$1.9 million salary plus $350,000 deferred—and start a national search for his replacement.

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