Warde Manuel buyout: How much is Michigan paying AD when he steps down?

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The details of Warde Manuel's buyout at the University of Michigan are now public.

According to the settlement between Michigan and its outgoing athletic director obtained by The Detroit News — part of the USA TODAY Network — Manuel will receive a lump sum of several million dollars as he prepares to step down at the end of the year.

The news of Manuel's departure at the end of the calendar year came this week after Jenner & Block LLP conducted a months-long investigation into the culture of the athletics department — at the cost of more than $12 million to the university — following the dismissal of former football coach Sherrone Moore in December after he was discovered to have an "inappropriate relationship" with assistant Paige Shriver.

He was subsequently arrested after allegedly breaking into Shriver's home and blaming her for losing his job.

Though the investigation found the department demonstrated "significant strengths" it also concluded it had "failures in accountability, structural deficiencies, weaknesses in our reporting and support systems, and concerns about retaliation."

Here's what to know of Manuel's buyout and contract information:

Warde Manuel contract buyout

According to Michigan and Manuel's settlement, the outgoing athletic director will be paid $7.14 million within 21 days of his resignation. He will also receive a retirement contribution of $108,000 and all retiree benefits — including health-plan coverage — despite not meeting Michigan's requirement of 20 years' employment.

Manuel agreed to a non-compete clause that stipulates he will not to be employed as an athletic director or senior athletic adviser for any Big Ten school in the two years from the date of his resignation. The school will also pay Manuel's attorney fees of his $82,000 in attorney fees and continue the typical benefits given to a former athletic director, including tickets and golf privileges.

What Michigan investigation discovered about Warde Manuel conduct

Moore's dismissal was only the latest in a string of controversies that occurred in Michigan athletics, even as its football and men's basketball programs won national championships (as well as men's and women's gymnastics). In 2023, details of an illegal scouting scheme by former staffer Connor Stalions rocked the university, with coach Jim Harbaugh receiving a 10-year show-cause order.

Harbaugh eventually left Michigan to coach the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers franchise, weeks after leading his alma mater to its first title since 1997.

Previously, the NCAA found the football program under Harbaugh had engaged in impermissible recruiting in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2023, former co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was fired after he was found to have engaged in illegal hacking and stealing photographs of student-athletes, mostly women.

"The culture review found that Warde Manuel demonstrated important leadership strengths, particularly his commitment to student-athletes. At the same time, it identified failures to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by Athletic Department employees," Michigan wrote on the website regarding the findings on Manuel.

The school is not expected to release the full findings of the investigation.

"I am very proud of all the successes and accomplishments of our athletic department over the past 11 years," Manuel said in a statement following news of his pending departure. "We have tremendous coaches and professionals who support our outstanding student athletes every day.

"I am happy (University of Michigan) President Grasso asked me to stay on to work with him to implement the recommendations for continuous improvement. I promise everyone I will have more to say about my decision at the appropriate time."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Warde Manuel buyout: How much is Michigan paying AD when he steps down?

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