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Warde Manuel
American football player and college athletics administrator (born 1968) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Warde Joseph Manuel[1] (born May 22, 1968[2]) is an American college athletics administrator and former American football player. He has served as the 12th director of athletics at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, since January 2016.[3]
He was the director of athletics at the University of Connecticut from 2012 to 2016 and at the State University of New York at Buffalo from 2005 to 2012.[4][5] He served as associate athletic director at the University of Michigan from 2000 to 2005.[6]
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Early life and education
Manuel played high school football at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans.[7] He was a first team high school All-American. He was recruited and enrolled at the University of Michigan, where he played defensive tackle for the Wolverines from 1986 to 1989, for coach Bo Schembechler, before suffering a career-ending neck injury.[7]
Manuel received a Bachelor of General Studies with a focus in psychology, a Master of Social Work, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan in 1990, 1993, and 2005, respectively.[6]
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Administrative career
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Manuel developed his management skills as associate athletic director at the University of Michigan from 2000 to 2005.[6] He credits Michigan coaches and staff for his success, including Bo Schembechler, Stephen M. Ross, and Greg Harden, now Director of Athletic Counseling at Michigan.[8]
Manuel was responsible for the hiring of Turner Gill as the head coach of Buffalo's football team. Under Gill the team achieved its first winning season and first invitation to a postseason bowl game since the program joined NCAA Division I athletics in 1999. Manuel helped change Buffalo's image and marketing strategy. Immediately after he took office, Manuel replaced the old "Bull Head" logo with a sleeker, more modern bull. Manuel also increased the athletics budget from $11 million to $25 million within three years of his hiring.
Manuel was the director of athletics at the University of Connecticut from 2012 to 2016.[4][5] He was hired as the 12th director of athletics at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, in January 2016.[3]
Manuel has served on the College Football Playoff selection committee since 2022–23, and became the committee chair for the 2024–25 edition, the first to feature a 12-team playoff.[9]
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