Report: Michigan athletics chief's fate amid calls for firing

By JAKE FENNER, US SPORTS WRITER and EMMA JAMES, US SENIOR REPORTER

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After the University of Michigan made one monumental change to the leadership in its athletic department with the firing of football coach Sherrone Moore, it does not seem that another similar axing will come anytime soon. On Thursday afternoon, rumors swirled that Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel was on the outs over his handling of the firing. However, Manuel remains the athletic director and those rumors have no legs to them 'despite reports to the contrary,' according to Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.

After the University of Michigan made one monumental change to the leadership in its athletic department with the firing of football coach Sherrone Moore, it does not seem that another similar axing will come anytime soon. On Thursday afternoon, rumors swirled that Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel was on the outs over his handling of the firing. However, Manuel remains the athletic director and those rumors have no legs to them 'despite reports to the contrary,' according to Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.

University officials and other board members held calls on Thursday to address the situation with the now-fired coach, Dellenger reports. Manuel was alone - without the presence of HR or security - when he fired Moore from his $6million per year job, according to NBC Sports' Nicole Auerbach . Manuel did this in spite of being previously alerted that the coach was dealing with mental health issues. After the decision was made, Moore then drove to an Ann Arbor apartment that is believed to belong to his 32-year-old executive assistant, Paige Shiver. Moore allegedly broke into her apartment with a knife in his hand.

University officials and other board members held calls on Thursday to address the situation with the now-fired coach, Dellenger reports. Manuel was alone - without the presence of HR or security - when he fired Moore from his $6million per year job, according to NBC Sports' Nicole Auerbach . Manuel did this in spite of being previously alerted that the coach was dealing with mental health issues. After the decision was made, Moore then drove to an Ann Arbor apartment that is believed to belong to his 32-year-old executive assistant, Paige Shiver. Moore allegedly broke into her apartment with a knife in his hand.

A female caller, who has not been identified, told 911 dispatchers that Moore had the weapon on him and that he had been stalking her 'for months'. The audio also claimed that Moore was 'suicidal' after losing his job, according to his wife Kelli, and that he was threatening to harm himself. After the attack, Moore allegedly fled the scene in a black Chevrolet Tahoe before cops found and detained him roughly an hour later at the Well Church at the corner of Ann Arbor Street and Willis Road. Earlier on Wednesday, Moore had been fired as Michigan's head coach over an affair with a staffer. The Wolverines employee has not been publicly identified.

A female caller, who has not been identified, told 911 dispatchers that Moore had the weapon on him and that he had been stalking her 'for months'. The audio also claimed that Moore was 'suicidal' after losing his job, according to his wife Kelli, and that he was threatening to harm himself. After the attack, Moore allegedly fled the scene in a black Chevrolet Tahoe before cops found and detained him roughly an hour later at the Well Church at the corner of Ann Arbor Street and Willis Road. Earlier on Wednesday, Moore had been fired as Michigan's head coach over an affair with a staffer. The Wolverines employee has not been publicly identified.

The school announced they had uncovered evidence of 'an inappropriate relationship with a staffer' and within hours he was in custody at Washtenaw County Jail after losing his $6million-a-year job. The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office confirmed to Daily Mail that he remains behind bars on Thursday, with charging decisions not expected to be made until he is arraigned. He is set to appear in court for arraignment on Friday, just under 48 hours after he was detained by police over the alleged assault. Pictured: Paige Shiver.

The school announced they had uncovered evidence of 'an inappropriate relationship with a staffer' and within hours he was in custody at Washtenaw County Jail after losing his $6million-a-year job. The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office confirmed to Daily Mail that he remains behind bars on Thursday, with charging decisions not expected to be made until he is arraigned. He is set to appear in court for arraignment on Friday, just under 48 hours after he was detained by police over the alleged assault. Pictured: Paige Shiver.

According to ESPN reporter Pete Thamel , the situation with Moore at Michigan had been 'percolating' for the last few weeks after he began acting 'strange' behind the scenes. 'There had been a lot of uneasiness on the Michigan staff, sources had told me Sherrone Moore had been acting strange, berating assistant coaches, not acting in a normal way,' Thamel said Wednesday on SportsCenter. Thamel claims there was an initial investigation that had calmed towards the end of the regular season, only for it to reignite over the past week. 'It is rare that you get a statement like the one Michigan had, being as explicit as they are, saying it was an inappropriate relationship with a staff member that led to Sherrone Moore’s firing,' he added.

According to ESPN reporter Pete Thamel , the situation with Moore at Michigan had been 'percolating' for the last few weeks after he began acting 'strange' behind the scenes. 'There had been a lot of uneasiness on the Michigan staff, sources had told me Sherrone Moore had been acting strange, berating assistant coaches, not acting in a normal way,' Thamel said Wednesday on SportsCenter. Thamel claims there was an initial investigation that had calmed towards the end of the regular season, only for it to reignite over the past week. 'It is rare that you get a statement like the one Michigan had, being as explicit as they are, saying it was an inappropriate relationship with a staff member that led to Sherrone Moore’s firing,' he added.

Michigan announced Moore's exit in a damning statement on Wednesday, with Manuel saying: 'Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. 'This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.' After citing cause for firing him due to that 'clear violation' of school policy, Michigan will not have to pay Moore his full buyout clause. He went 18-8 in his two seasons as Wolverines head coach, with the team 9-3 this year before his shock firing.

Michigan announced Moore's exit in a damning statement on Wednesday, with Manuel saying: 'Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. 'This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.' After citing cause for firing him due to that 'clear violation' of school policy, Michigan will not have to pay Moore his full buyout clause. He went 18-8 in his two seasons as Wolverines head coach, with the team 9-3 this year before his shock firing.

Manuel's tenure as the athletic director at his alma mater has been rife with scandal since he left the University of Connecticut for the job in 2016. Within the football team alone, multiple assistant coaches and staff members hired by former head coach Jim Harbaugh had run-ins with the law . Coaches had been arrested multiple separate times for DUI while former co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was fired and charged with alleged computer access crimes. Harbaugh himself was at the center of a pair of scandals - facing punishment for them in 2023, the year he won a national championship. He subsequently left for the Los Angeles Chargers. Not only was Harbaugh found to have committed recruiting violations, he also was in charge during a massive sign-stealing scandal and attempted cover-up.

Manuel's tenure as the athletic director at his alma mater has been rife with scandal since he left the University of Connecticut for the job in 2016. Within the football team alone, multiple assistant coaches and staff members hired by former head coach Jim Harbaugh had run-ins with the law . Coaches had been arrested multiple separate times for DUI while former co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was fired and charged with alleged computer access crimes. Harbaugh himself was at the center of a pair of scandals - facing punishment for them in 2023, the year he won a national championship. He subsequently left for the Los Angeles Chargers. Not only was Harbaugh found to have committed recruiting violations, he also was in charge during a massive sign-stealing scandal and attempted cover-up.

Away from the gridiron, in August 2022, Michigan dismissed men's hockey coach Mel Pearson after an investigation found he allegedly used ethnic slurs. The investigation also found Pearson showed an 'inability or willingness' to hold the Wolverines' director of hockey operations responsible for conduct which included 'mistreatment of female staff members'. Pearson also allegedly told players to provide false Covid-19 tests. On the hardwood, former head basketball coach Juwan Howard was suspended for striking a University of Wisconsin assistant in February 2022. Howard was later found to have had an altercation with his own strength and conditioning coach in December 2023. He was fired at the end of the 2023-24 season.

Away from the gridiron, in August 2022, Michigan dismissed men's hockey coach Mel Pearson after an investigation found he allegedly used ethnic slurs. The investigation also found Pearson showed an 'inability or willingness' to hold the Wolverines' director of hockey operations responsible for conduct which included 'mistreatment of female staff members'. Pearson also allegedly told players to provide false Covid-19 tests. On the hardwood, former head basketball coach Juwan Howard was suspended for striking a University of Wisconsin assistant in February 2022. Howard was later found to have had an altercation with his own strength and conditioning coach in December 2023. He was fired at the end of the 2023-24 season.

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