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University of Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel has reportedly earned a five-year contract extension. Manuel is has been in Ann Arbor since 2016 and the athletic programs at the University have seen a lot of success since then. Manuel is also currently the chair of the College Football Playoff committee.
“Michigan and athletic director Warde Manuel are finalizing a five year contract extension, per industry sources,” Dan Wetzel said in a post. “Manuel, who currently chairs the CFP selection committee, has been with his alma mater since 2016.”
The Michigan football team won the national championship last season, and the school's basketball program seems to be on the rise after Warde Manuel's Dusty May hire. Those two programs having success are certainly the most important as they are the big money makers and they receive the most attention. However, the school is simply an all-around athletic powerhouse.
A lot of Michigan fans had some issues with Warde Manuel after Jim Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers last offseason. Harbaugh immediately turned around the football program when he came to Ann Arbor in 2015, and he led the program to three straight Big Ten titles, three straight wins over Ohio State, three straight CFP appearances and a national championship before departing. Wolverines fans wanted Harbaugh forever.
It didn't seem like Jim Harbaugh and Manuel had the best relationship, and that could've contributed to Harbaugh going back to the NFL. However, Manuel has done a lot of good things since then.
First off, Manuel seems to have nailed his hire for the basketball program as Dusty May has the Wolverines looking miles better in his first year. It's obviously early, but so far things are looking good.
Manuel has also adapted well to the NIL landscape that is college athletics. Michigan seemed behind the big dogs at first, but now, it's clear that the Wolverines can compete with anybody. That has already helped the Michigan football team and the future looks bright after the Wolverines just beat Ohio State again.
Warde Manuel definitely deserves credit for those things, and his success has earned him an extension.
