Report: Michigan AD Warde Manuel's status with school 'being discussed' by Board of Regents

Michigan has undergone some major changes this year. Wednesday’s news was just another chapter in that book, with the firing of Sherrone Moore. However, that may not be the last of them, with the powers that be in Ann Arbor now apparently looking at AD Warde Manuel.

In a post on social media this afternoon, John Bacon, a longtime newspaper writer in Michigan, noted the difficulties that may be ahead in the upcoming coaching search for the Wolverines. Michigan already has an interim president in charge of the university and could have an interim athletic director too, with the Board of Regents currently discussing what the future is for Manuel, per Bacon.

“Michigan will likely have to recruit a new coach with an interim president and an athletic director whose status is currently being discussed by the Regents,” Bacon posted. “I’m not sure if that uncertainty would scare a top candidate away, but it could.”

This news about Moore is just one more black eye for the Michigan football program. Not long ago, the school was under investigation for a sign-stealing scandal under Jim Harbaugh. Now, the Wolverines have fired a coach for cause.

Per reports, Moore was “engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member” of the Wolverines. He has also now been taken into custody, with law enforcement investigating an alleged assault. Moore is set to be arraigned on Friday.

Those are among the most noteworthy just out of the football program. There have also been issues involving other programs like the hockey team that resulted in the firing of Mel Pearson, as well as a major firing of a head coach, as well as a beloved alumnus, leading their men’s basketball program in Juwan Howard.

That’s not to take away from the successes of the athletic department on the playing field. But, that said, these matters have begun to pile up over the last several years, with the athletics director ultimately in charge of and responsible for those at some point, for the Wolverines.

If Michigan were to move on from Manuel, though, it would further complicate the process for the Wolverines. As noted by Bacon, the school is already being led by an interim president, with Domenico Grasso being in charge at the university since his appointment back in May. That makes it a wonder of who exactly will be leading the coaching search, especially if a decision were to be made on Manuel.

This has obviously become quite a mess ongoing now in Ann Arbor. And, because of it, someone else might potentially lose their job, with it possibly going all the way to the top in Manuel, depending on the thoughts of the Board of Regents.