Michigan hires athletic director

University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel named alumnus and former player Warde Manuel as the new athletic director.

Manuel, who is the first sitting athletic director MI has ever hired for the position, has strong ties at the university.

But as the nine-year MI basketball coach folded into the U-M family over the past decade, Beilein has crossed enough paths that, when someone re-emerges, he is familiar. He played football at MI under Bo Schembechler, he previously worked in the MI athletic department, and he had experience as an athletic director at a major university.

Two high ranking CT officials told The AP earlier in the day that the school’s athletic director, Manuel, had been offered the same job at his alma mater.

During his press conference on Friday, Manuel said MI first contacted him about possible interest in the job back in December, and his reply was “hell yeah”.

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“I’ve known him over the years here, and I don’t think we could’ve hired any better”. In his tenure, the school won six NCAA national championships.

CT women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma said Wednesday night that he will miss Manuel as his boss and friend. “Jim Hackett was just absolutely incredible with coming in, providing smooth air for all of us as we went forward… hiring a great football coach, getting with the apparel contract was a huge undertaking, he focused on what was really important and trusted the rest of his staff to keep the athletic program growing”.

He navigated UConn through the retirement of Hall of Fame basketball coach Jim Calhoun, agreeing to hire Kevin Ollie, Calhoun’s hand-picked successor.

The Free-Press reported that Manuel signed a five-year contract with MI, which will pay him over $700,000 per year.