A sweeping internal review of the University of Michigan’s athletic department, launched after the December 2025 dismissal of football coach Sherrone Moore, has been made public, revealing a $12 million expenditure and a litany of governance lapses.
Scope and Cost
The inquiry, conducted by Jenner & Block LLP, examined more than 20,000 documents and interviewed nearly 300 witnesses, including 350 individuals, to assess how oversight failures allowed misconduct to persist.
Leadership Fallout
Warde Manuel, who has served as athletic director for several years, announced that he will step down at the end of the calendar year amid mounting pressure. Moore’s termination stemmed from an inappropriate relationship with his executive assistant, Paige Shiver, a misconduct allegation that led to his arrest and a subsequent 18‑month probation sentence.
Cultural and Institutional Gaps
The review concluded that existing mechanisms to monitor the football program were insufficient, noting that the department had faced multiple scandals under Manuel’s watch, including prior NCAA investigations of the football and men’s hockey teams. Recommendations call for stronger accountability structures and a more proactive response to allegations of wrongdoing.