In the wake of the University of Michigan firing football coach Sherrone Moore, athletic director Warde Manuel’s job could now be in jeopardy.
Manuel made the official announcement on Wednesday, Dec. 10, that Moore had been fired after two years as head coach after an investigation in which “credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
Advertisement
LIVE UPDATES: Latest news on Sherrone Moore’s firing, arrest
The firing calls into question Manuel’s choice of Moore to replace former coach Jim Harbaugh − who led the Wolverines to a national championship in 2023, but left following an NCAA investigation into allegations of sign-stealing. Moore served as interim head coach for six games while Harbaugh was suspended, and Manuel hired him to take over the job in 2024.
1 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
1 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
2 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore cheers as he runs onto the field for warmup at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
3 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore uses hand signal, 4-0, to celebrate the Wolverines’ 4th straight win over Ohio State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
4 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches a play against Ohio State during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
5 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day shakes hands with Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore following the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Michigan won 13-10.
6 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore hugs athletic director Warde Manuel during warmup at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
7 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore reacts to a play against Purdue during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
8 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore shakes hands with Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith after the Wolverines’ 31-20 win at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
9 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore cheers on before a play against Washington during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
10 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Sherrone Moore, Michigan’s new head coach, smiles as he is surrounded by members of the media during a press conference inside the Junge Family Champions Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.
11 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore walks around the field after team arrive for the game between Ohio State and Michigan at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
12 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore celebrates with defensive back Brandyn Hillman.
13 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches a play against Ohio State during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
14 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Jan 19, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head football coach Sherrone Moore fires up the crowd in overtime of the basketball game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
15 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore leads his team onto the field for the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.
16 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore prepares to take the field before the the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
17 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
18 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches a play against Purdue during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
19 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore hugs Washington head coach Jedd Fisch after 24-7 win at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
20 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
COLUMBUS, OHIO – NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Sherrone Moore of the Michigan Wolverines arrives before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
21 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore shakes hands with USC head coach Lincoln Riley after 27-24 win at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
22 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore walks towards the locker room as team arrive ahead of the New Mexico game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
23 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore before the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Michigan Wolverines at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
24 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) during the first half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
25 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore greets Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer after the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
26 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore leaves the field after a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Michigan Wolverines at Gaylord Family Ð Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Oklahoma won 24-13.
27 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
28 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
University of Michigan coach Sherrone Moore celebrates after beating the University of Alabama on Dec. 31, 2024, in Tampa, Fla.
29 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore fires up the student section during warm up ahead of the New Mexico game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
30 / 30
See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore’s career on the field
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, center, speaks to players after the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Moore served a two-game suspension this past season for his role in the sign-stealing scandal, and would have been suspended for next season’s opener had he remained as Michigan’s head coach.
Who is Warde Manuel?
Manuel, a former defensive lineman for the Wolverines from 1986-1989 under legendary coach Bo Schembechler, has served as the school’s AD since January 2016.
Advertisement
He previously served as the athletic director at Connecticut (2012-2016) and SUNY-Buffalo (2005-2012). Before that, he was an associate athletic director at Michigan from 2000-2005.
He has served on the College Football Playoff selection committee, and was the committee chairman for the 2024-25 season.
Warde Manuel was named athletic director at the University of Michigan in 2016.
Warde Manuel salary
In December 2024, the University of Michigan finalized a five-year contract extension with Manuel which is scheduled to run through June 30, 2030.
According to a copy of his contract obtained by the USA TODAY Network, as of Jan. 1, 2025, Manuel is being paid $1.9 million annually in base salary with a maximum of $150,000 in performance incentives.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan AD Warde Manuel under scrutiny after coach’s firing, arrest