Claim: Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel agreed to a buyout and will step down at year’s end due to a $12 million independent review/investigation.

Warde Manuel has spent over a decade at the helm of Michigan’s athletic program, guiding one of college sports’ most high-profile departments. Under his leadership, Michigan celebrated several national championships, including titles in football and men’s basketball. However, his tenure was also marked by NCAA scrutiny and legal controversies involving members of the football program.

One of the most notable scandals emerged in 2025, when then-football coach Sherrone Moore was fired over an inappropriate relationship with Paige Shiver, a former executive assistant. The controversy prompted the university to take a closer look at the broader culture and operations within its athletic department.

Later that year, Michigan hired Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block to investigate the Moore situation and conduct a wider review of the department. Months later, on July 20, the university released a summary of the independent investigation, which has already cost nearly $20 million, into the “culture” of its scandal-plagued athletic department. 

On the same day, Michigan announced that Manuel would exit the university as athletic director at the end of the calendar year as part of a buyout agreement that will reportedly pay him more than $7 million, along with additional benefits. The timing naturally raises an important question: Was Manuel’s departure directly tied to the investigation and its findings? Here’s what we found.

Our Verdict: Unsubstantiated

Although Manuel’s departure was announced alongside the summary of the independent investigation, the agreement indicates that he is stepping down voluntarily rather than being fired. His separation agreement also sheds some light on the terms of his departure from Michigan. Titled a “settlement agreement,” the document states that it constitutes a “complete settlement of Mr. Manuel’s claims against UM.”

The agreement further stipulates that Manuel’s personnel file with Michigan will reflect that he “voluntarily resigns”. Manuel signed the agreement on July 17, 2026. That is one day after a Michigan university board meeting at which his future was not discussed and several days before the school publicly announced his departure. Until his resignation in December, Manuel will continue to receive his current monthly compensation.

Within 21 days of leaving Michigan, Manuel will receive a lump-sum payment of $7,143,346. He will also receive a retirement contribution of $108,000 from the university, as well as “former athletic director privileges,” including “sports tickets and golf privileges.” Michigan has also agreed to cover $82,000 in attorneys’ fees. Meanwhile, the investigation into the department’s “culture” concluded that the issues were not “widespread.” 

“Neither the investigation nor the culture review found that misconduct was widespread throughout the department,” the outline stated. “The culture review found that weaknesses in accountability, organizational structure, oversight, and reporting created conditions in which misconduct was not always addressed consistently, promptly, or in accordance with University expectations.”

Regarding Manuel specifically, the summary of the investigation concluded that he “demonstrated important leadership strengths, particularly his commitment to student-athletes. At the same time, [the review] identified failures to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by Athletic Department employees.” The outline also stated that the review identified “a series of structural, policy, and operational recommendations designed to strengthen accountability and organizational effectiveness.”

As part of the transition, Manuel will remain in his position through the end of the calendar year before stepping down. He will also serve as a special assistant, advising the university on implementing the reforms outlined in the report.

Our fact-checking sources: 

• ESPN, July 20, 2026. Michigan AD Warde Manuel to step down at end of calendar year
• NBC Sports, July 20, 2026. Michigan announces A.D. Warde Manuel will step down at end of calendar year
• Front Office Sports, July 25, 2026. Michigan AD Warde Manuel to Get $7M Settlement
• University of Michigan. Michigan Athletics Investigation
• University of Michigan, July 20, 2026. Michigan Athletics investigation update