Report: Michigan, athletic director Warde Manuel finalizing five-year contract extension

Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel is in line for a five-year contract extension, according to a report from Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Wetzel.

Wetzel reports that the two sides are finalizing that five-year extension, according to industry sources. That would keep Manuel in charge of the program’s athletics until almost 2030.

Manuel has been the program’s athletics director since Jan. 29, 2016, serving at his alma mater.

He has overseen a significant amount of success in the athletics program, not the least of which was a national title (albeit one surrounded by off-field controversy) for the football team in 2023. Manuel also has duties outside of Michigan football.

He has served as a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee since 2022, becoming chair of the committee for the 2024 football season. That puts him in a prominent and pivotal role in the sport.

It’s also likely led to some headaches.

Warde Manuel explains Alabama over Miami

The most significant decision yet for the College Football Playoff committee this year came on Tuesday night, when the committee opted to rank three-loss Alabama ahead of two-loss Miami, leaving the Hurricanes out of the 12-team playoff bracket.

It’s a move that could have significant ramifications for both teams heading into the final ranking.

And Manuel was obviously pressed about how the committee came to that conclusion. He opened up and explained his answer.

“What it came down to is as we evaluated both teams and looked at how they rank, obviously we think highly of both teams,” Manuel said. “One’s at 11, one’s at 12. But what it really came down to is Alabama is 3-1 against current top 25 teams and Miami is 0-1. Alabama is 6-1 against teams above .500 and Miami’s 4-2. Both have had some losses that weren’t what they wanted out of those games. But in the last three games, Miami has lost twice.”

That didn’t satisfy everyone, and Manuel will likely have more tough decisions to explain this weekend.

Still, at least he can rest knowing his long-term future with Michigan is now more secure than ever.