The University of Michigan’s Board of Regents is scheduled to meet Thursday, July 16, in Traverse City to discuss the findings of an independent investigation into the culture of the school’s athletic department. According to multiple reports, a decision on the future of longtime athletic director Warde Manuel is expected in the coming days as a direct result of that review.
This is one of the most significant institutional moments in Michigan athletics in years, arriving after a stretch that has already included a football sign-stealing scandal, an NCAA fine expected to exceed $30 million, and the criminal case involving former head coach Sherrone Moore. Here is a complete, fact-based breakdown of what’s known heading into Thursday’s meeting.
What Is the Michigan Athletics Investigation About?
Michigan’s Board of Regents authorized the Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block in December to conduct what was initially described as an “open-ended” review of the athletics department. University president Domenico Grasso later confirmed the scope had expanded into what he called “an independent evaluation of culture, conduct and procedures throughout our athletics department.”
In other words, this isn’t a narrow review of a single incident. It’s a broad look at how the athletic department is run, how it has handled allegations of misconduct, and whether its leadership structure allowed problems to persist or go unaddressed. Reports indicate the investigation has cost the university more than $11 million, with some outlets putting the figure at roughly $12 million.
The Sherrone Moore Scandal That Triggered the Investigation
The immediate catalyst for the investigation was the firing of football coach Sherrone Moore. Michigan dismissed Moore on December 10 after the athletic department was made aware that morning of an inappropriate relationship between Moore and a subordinate staff member, later identified as Paige Shiver, who served as his executive assistant.
According to reports, on the same day he was fired, Moore went to Shiver’s home. Shiver told authorities that he forced his way in, grabbed two butter knives, and backed her into a corner. Moore was arrested and spent two nights in jail. He was initially charged with felony home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering charges that carried a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. In April, Moore agreed to a plea deal, ultimately pleading to the lesser misdemeanor charges of malicious use of a telecommunications device and trespassing. He was sentenced to 18 months of probation with no jail time, fined more than $1,000, and ordered to have no contact with Shiver and to avoid drugs or alcohol during his probation.
Shiver’s attorneys said in March that she endured “years of manipulation, harassment and exploitation” from Moore, and that she believes she may not have been the only person subjected to inappropriate or predatory behavior from him during his tenure. Those allegations — and questions about how much the athletic department’s leadership knew about the relationship and when — are central to what the Jenner & Block investigation is expected to address.
Michigan moved quickly to replace Moore, hiring former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham in January in an effort to stabilize the football program.
Why Warde Manuel’s Job Is on the Line
Warde Manuel has served as Michigan’s athletic director since January 2016, making him one of the longer-tenured ADs in major college sports. He signed a five-year contract extension through June 30, 2030, in December 2024, with average annual compensation reported at $1.9 million.
Despite that extension, sources told both ESPN and CBS Sports that Manuel’s tenure is now genuinely in jeopardy, with retirement among the options he is reportedly weighing. The central question the investigation is expected to answer is what Manuel and other athletics officials knew about Moore’s relationship with Shiver, and how they responded once concerns were raised.
Manuel has never personally been cited for direct involvement in any of the scandals that have hit Michigan athletics during his tenure. Speaking at the Big Ten’s spring meetings in May, he addressed the turbulence directly: “I always aim for steadiness. Believe me, this is not anything that I’ve desired or wanted or hoped for. But I deal with it. My goal as a leader is to provide the steadiness in the wake of dealing with issues to the rest of the department and my staff and student-athletes.”
Even so, the sheer volume of controversy that has occurred on his watch has put his position under scrutiny.
Michigan’s Broader Pattern of Off-Field Controversy
The Moore situation didn’t happen in isolation — it’s the latest in a series of issues that have defined Manuel’s tenure as athletic director:
The sign-stealing scandal. A yearslong NCAA investigation into an illegal in-person scouting and sign-stealing scheme orchestrated by then-staffer Connor Stalions during Michigan’s 2023 national championship run resulted in significant NCAA penalties, including a fine expected to exceed $30 million, four years of probation for the university, and a 10-year show-cause order against former head coach Jim Harbaugh. Both Harbaugh and Moore, who was Michigan’s offensive coordinator at the time, were connected to the fallout; Moore ultimately served a two-game suspension tied to the case. Manuel was also at the center of a dispute with the Big Ten over the conference’s decision to suspend Harbaugh for three games under its sportsmanship policy in 2023.
The Matt Weiss case. Former co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was fired in January 2023 after completing his second season on the Michigan staff. He has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of aggravated identity theft and unauthorized computer access, with his trial currently scheduled for September 2026.
Coaching departures. Manuel has also navigated significant coaching turnover outside of football. He hired Dusty May away from Florida Atlantic as men’s basketball coach in March 2024. After May led Michigan to a national championship in 2026, Manuel publicly announced during the championship parade that the two had agreed to a long-term deal to keep May at Michigan. That agreement was never finalized, and May left less than two months later to become head coach of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
Despite the turbulence, Michigan has also produced real success under Manuel, winning national championships in women’s gymnastics (2021), football (2023), men’s gymnastics (2025), and men’s basketball (2026).
What Happens Thursday
According to a report from Yahoo Sports national columnist Dan Wetzel, citing sources alongside Pete Thamel, the investigation’s findings are expected to be released publicly on Thursday, with a decision on Manuel’s future to follow in the coming days. However, a University of Michigan spokesperson told multiple outlets over the weekend that the school “had nothing to report” and that there were no plans to release investigation materials this week, declining to comment further.
That leaves some uncertainty about exactly how much of the report if any the public will actually see on Thursday, even as the Board of Regents meeting itself is confirmed to be taking place in Traverse City to review the findings internally.
What We Still Don’t Know
As of now, several key questions remain unanswered publicly:
- The full contents of the Jenner & Block report have not been released.
- Whether Manuel will be removed, allowed to retire, or retained in some capacity has not been decided.
- Whether the investigation identifies other staff members or coaches beyond Moore has not been confirmed.
- The exact final cost of the investigation has not been officially disclosed by the university, though it is reported to exceed $11 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Michigan’s athletic department investigation be released? The Board of Regents is scheduled to meet Thursday, July 16, in Traverse City to discuss the findings. Reports differ on whether the findings themselves will be made public that day.
What triggered the Michigan athletics investigation? The firing and subsequent arrest of football coach Sherrone Moore in December, following revelations of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, prompted the Board of Regents to commission the review.
Who is conducting the investigation? The Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block was authorized by Michigan’s Board of Regents in December to lead the investigation.
Is Warde Manuel losing his job? No final decision has been announced. Sources indicate his future, including the possibility of retirement, will be addressed following Thursday’s meeting.
How much did the investigation cost? Reports indicate the probe cost more than $11 million, with some outlets citing a figure closer to $12 million.
Final Word
Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting represents a genuine turning point for Michigan athletics. After years of high-profile controversy from the sign-stealing scandal to the criminal case involving Sherrone Moore the university now faces a moment of institutional reckoning, with the findings of an independent, multimillion-dollar investigation set to shape leadership decisions at the highest level of its athletic department. What’s confirmed right now is limited: the meeting is happening, Manuel’s future is in question, and the university has not committed to releasing the report publicly this week. What comes next will define the direction of Michigan athletics for years to come.
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