The disturbing fallout between former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore and the program after ‘credible evidence’ surfaced he was involved in an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a staffer is the latest in a long line of black marks for Michigan’s athletic department.
The most recent in a lengthy list of scandals has prompted a common refrain throughout the past week: Why and how does athletic director Warde Manuel still have a job? The answer is complicated and lengthy, but the version is this: He just does … for now.
A person with knowledge of the situation told the Detroit Free Press, part of USA TODAY Co., this week the Board of Regents met with Manuel on Thursday, Dec. 11, to discuss the latest scandal enveloping the biggest program he oversees.
Moore, Michigan’s football coach for two seasons and an assistant for six before that, was fired Wednesday when a relationship between him and a staffer was uncovered.
What does this have to do with Manuel? Other than it happened in the most important program he oversees? Because it’s still not entirely clear what he knew, and when.
That’s where the law firm of Jenner & Block comes in. U-M brought in the firm after its internal probe did not discover any evidence, but questions didn’t feel fully answered. Now, the firm has extended its investigation to the athletic department at large.
According to a source, the firm is looking into everything — including Manuel — to find out if there was a coverup.
Not only are there questions about the timing of U-M’s investigation — rumors swirled, but didn’t crescendo until after a loss to Ohio State, with the relationship not established until after an incoming recruiting class had mostly committed during the early national signing period — but about how such a long-term relationship within the department could have gone unnoticed by so many.
The first hint of impropriety came from an anonymous tip earlier this year, through a university hotline, stating Moore and the staffer were involved. The university brought both parties in for questioning and searched their phones, per the source, but no impermissible relationship was discovered.
That all changed this past week. Moore was fired after the staffer came forward and admitted there was a relationship.
That’s according to Kati Rezmierski, the Washtenaw County first assistant prosecutor who spoke Friday in Moore’s arraignment for third-degree felony home invasion, misdemeanor stalking and misdemeanor breaking and entering.
Moore has since admitted to police the two had been in a two-year relationship, the Free Press learned from recently obtained court records.
(While other court records redacted the name of the executive assistant, the transcript from the closed Friday hearing did not. The Free Press generally does not identify people described as domestic crime victims without their consent.)
A source told the Free Press “it’s fair” to say Manuel’s future is largely tied to the findings of the investigation. As of Thursday, he was “not on the hot seat in any imminent way,” but depending on the findings, that could change as quickly as Moore’s life has seemingly unraveled.
Of course, Manuel’s future isn’t that simple, either. He reports directly to the president’s office, which then reports to the board of regents. Currently, U-M is led by Domenico Grasso, an interim president brought in from U-M Dearborn after Santa Ono left Michigan for a potential job at the University of Florida.
A source told the Free Press that even though he’s serving on an interim basis, Grasso does have the go-ahead to make the call on Manuel’s future once Jenner & Block presents its findings.
Of course, this all comes while U-M searching for a permanent president. Grasso has indicated to those around him his plan is to finish the academic year, until May, according to a person with knowledge of his expected timeline.
The Free Press has learned the candidate list for president has been narrowed down; a decision could come early in 2026, though said hire would likely not take over until May 2026 — especially if they’re currently overseeing a university of their own.
The Jenner & Block investigation “would almost certainly be over’ by that point, according to the Free Press’ source. That would put the decision on Grasso, with the backing of the board to make the decision.
So, as Michigan looks for a new football coach and a new president, it also is looking into its athletic director.
Moore, who has been placed on a GPS tether since his release, is next due in court for a hearing on Jan. 22.
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