AD Warde Manuel created Michigan's lawless environment. He should go

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AD Warde Manuel created Michigan's lawless environment. He should go

Michigan athletics wants Warde Manuel to reform corrupt culture. That's absurd | Opinion

Nancy Armour, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Thu, Dec 11, 2025 ·

3 min read

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Sherrone Moore isn't the only person in Michigan's athletic department who should be out of a job.

The Moore allegations – an "inappropriate relationship" with a staffer – are seedy enough. But the Michigan athletic department has long been a cesspool, and that's squarely on athletic director Warde Manuel .

There was the basketball coach who smacked an opposing assistant in the face . Not to be confused with that same coach's altercation with someone on his own staff . There was the toxic and misogynistic atmosphere in the hockey program . There was the gymnastics coach fired after police found him engaged in sexual activity with a student in a car. There was football's sign-stealing scandal . The recruiting violations uncovered during the sign-stealing scandal.

The failure to monitor. The laundry list of staffers who've been arrested or sanctioned by the NCAA.

And these are just the things we know about!

"This conduct constitutes a clear violation of university policy," Manuel said in a statement Wednesday announcing Moore's dismissal, "and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior."

Zero tolerance? Anything goes at Michigan, until you're caught

Since when? Manuel has been running a department where anything goes, no sin too big to paper over or forgive. Unless the Michigan regents enjoy their school being the perpetual source of national embarrassment, Manuel has to go, too.

Whether Manuel had direct knowledge of or involvement in any of these scandals is irrelevant. He hired Moore despite all his baggage . He hired Juwan Howard and then stood by his basketball coach despite knowing the men's basketball program was a ticking time bomb. He hired hockey coach Mel Pearson.

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See fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore's career on the field

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore shakes hands with place kicker Dominic Zvada (96) after an extra point against Washington during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Moore, the former Michigan football coach fired on Dec. 10 , 2025, was arrested hours after he was relieved of his duties.

(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore cheers as he runs onto the field for warmup at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

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.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

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.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore hugs athletic director Warde Manuel during warmup at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

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.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

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.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

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.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

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.
(David Rodriguez Munoz, Detroit Free Press)

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.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore celebrates with defensive back Brandyn Hillman.
(Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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
(Rick Osentoski, Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)

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.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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.
(Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch)

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.
(Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

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.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

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.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

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)
(Jason Mowry, Getty Images)

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.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

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
(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

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.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)

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.
(Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images)

University of Michigan coach Sherrone Moore celebrates after beating the University of Alabama on Dec. 31, 2024, in Tampa, Fla.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)

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.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, center, speaks to players after the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

Manuel created an atmosphere in Michigan's department where the big names and underlings alike saw rules as mere suggestions and the sole guiding principle was "by any means necessary." This is Manuel's athletic department. Everything that occurs in it, the good, the bad and the criminal, is a reflection of his leadership.

(Manuel also hired Kevin Ollie when he was the AD at UConn, for what it's worth, and we all know how well that turned out .)

This 'Michigan man' wins, but keeps damaging the university's reputation

Manuel is a "Michigan man," a defensive tackle under the legendary Bo Schembechler, and the Michigan regents might be reluctant to throw one of their own under the bus. Especially one who's overseen as much success as Manuel has.

In addition to football's national title in 2023, the women's gymnastics team were NCAA champions in 2021 while John Beilein took the Wolverines to the men's basketball title game in 2018.

But that success has come at what cost to Michigan's reputation?

Michigan prides itself on being one of the country's elite academic institutions, and its athletic programs are meant to reflect that higher-minded pursuit. The Wolverines do not chase fads or fashion, their block M and football's winged helmets visible testaments to their time-honored traditions and values. They have produced champions and role models, not embarrassments and cringe-worthy memories.

They are supposed to be, in Michigan's mind, the country's best, setting a standard both on the field of play and off.

Yet Moore's firing, and the circumstances around it, cement Michigan's status as just another one of the renegades. A school with no moral compass or code of values. A school that prizes wins above else and thinks playing by the rules is for suckers.

This is Manuel's legacy at Michigan, even more than those national titles and All-Americans.

Yes, Moore is the one who did wrong. Same as all those others at Michigan who cut corners and thought rules didn't apply to them. But Manuel allowed it to happen. He is just as much to blame for Michigan's shame.

(This story has been updated with additional information)

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: With Sherrone Moore fired, Michigan AD Warde Manuel should go, too

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