Report: Michigan set to hire new AD, a former Jim Harbaugh teammate
Filling Jim Hackett’s shoes wasn’t going to be easy.
Michigan’s interim athletic director was credited for firing Brady Hoke and hiring Jim Harbaugh, and he also helped the school land a record-setting apparel deal with Nike. Hackett did plenty in his 15 months as interim AD, but he never wanted the job permanently.
After 15 months, Michigan reportedly has its man.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the job will go to former Connecticut AD Warde Manuel. Contract details are reportedly still being finalized.
Manuel, 47, played football for Michigan and previously worked in the school’s athletic department. According to the New York Times’ John U. Bacon, Manuel would be the first Michigan AD with athletic department experience since Bo Schembechler, whom Manuel played for.
Manuel was teammates with Jim Harbaugh on Michigan’s 1986 team, as well. He’s been a Division I AD for the last 10 years, most recently at UConn beginning in 2012.
It was reported that he was the front-runner for the position since the beginning of the process, but there were apparently other B1G targets.
Michigan went about AD search in right way. Pursued Northwestern's Jim Phillips multiple times, I'm told, as well as other veteran ADs.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 27, 2016
The school has yet to official confirm the Detroit Free Press report. If true, Manuel would be the 13th AD in the school’s history.