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Michigan Regents Set to Meet Thursday Over Athletic Department Investigation

A decision on the future of athletic director Warde Manuel is expected within days.

Built in 1904 and expanded to its present size in 1910, this Renaissance Revival-style building was designed by George Mason and Albert Kahn to serve as the home of the Engineering Department of the University of Michigan.  The building is clad in red brick with a hipped red terra cotta tile roof fe
Built in 1904 and expanded to its present size in…      University Of Michigan    w_lemay / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
By Free News Press Editorial Team
Published July 13, 2026 at 1:47 PM PDT

The University of Michigan's board of regents is expected to meet Thursday to discuss an ongoing investigation into the culture of the school's athletic department, according to ESPN.

The review has put athletic director Warde Manuel's position in question. Sources told ESPN that a decision on Manuel's future is expected in the coming days, suggesting the Thursday meeting could be a turning point in how the university responds to the findings.

The investigation centers on the culture within the athletic department, though specific details of what prompted the review were not available. The timing of the regents' meeting indicates the university is moving toward some form of resolution.

Manuel has served as Michigan's athletic director since 2016. His tenure has included both the program's return to national prominence in football and a series of controversies, including the sign-stealing investigation that drew NCAA scrutiny in recent years.

Whether the regents' meeting produces a formal announcement or sets a timeline for further action remains to be seen. ESPN reported that sources expect the decision on Manuel to come in the days following Thursday's session, meaning the situation could move quickly from the boardroom to a public announcement.

Landscape Design for University of Michigan Met CT 3409
Landscape Design for University of Michigan Met C…      University Of Michigan    Alexander Jackson Davis / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)