Michigan's Warde Manuel admits feeling 'betrayed' amid Sherrone Moore's 'inappropriate relationship' fallout

Michigan diversion head Warde Manuel is speaking retired arsenic a wide-ranging reappraisal of nan shot programme unfolds pursuing Sherrone Moore's dismissal.

Last year, an investigation wished Moore was progressive successful an "inappropriate narration pinch a unit member." It was later revealed that Moore's erstwhile assistant was portion of nan relationship. The fallout from nan ungraded yet near Michigan's apical athletics charismatic emotion "betrayed."

"I felt betrayed. It’s nan champion connection that I tin use," Manuel told nan Detroit News.

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Former Michigan shot coach Sherrone Moore appears successful a courtroom successful Ann Arbor, Mich., connected Jan. 22, 2026. (Jose Juarez/AP)

Manuel said nan business struck a individual chord and had broader consequences for those astir nan program.

"It was personal, but it was also, I want to emphasize, for truthful galore group that were affected by it. … There are a batch of group who declare to beryllium callous, who say, ‘Oh, you should person fired him erstwhile nan rumor was there.’ But you can’t conscionable occurrence group connected rumors pinch nary evidence. So erstwhile nan grounds was presented, it was a consciousness of betrayal and wounded for everybody who was going to beryllium progressive pinch a decision."

FORMER MICHIGAN COACH SHERRONE MOORE RECEIVES PUNISHMENT FROM STALKING CASE STEMMING FROM FIRING

Manuel seemed to dodge questions astir who initiated nan investigation — whether it was his determination aliases that of nan Board of Regents. He besides pushed backmost connected really it has been portrayed, defending nan program’s broader culture.

Sherrone Moore, caput coach astatine nan University of Michigan, stands adjacent to Warde Manuel, nan school’s diversion director, during a property convention astatine nan Junge Family Champions Center successful Ann Arbor, Michigan, connected Jan. 27, 2024. (David Rodriguez Munoz / USA TODAY NETWORK)

"I was good if that was nan guidance that they wanted to go," Warde Manuel said. "What I haven’t appreciated … is successful nan discourse of an investigation into nan civilization here. However group want to sofa it, what I want is group to understand that 99.9% of nan group present are doing things nan correct way. … We’ve had our issues and we’re not perfect, and I don’t cognize immoderate statement that’s without issues and group issues."

Amid speculation astir his ain role, Manuel pushed backmost connected nan thought that he is nether investigation.

Athletic Director Warde Manuel of nan Michigan Wolverines walks onto nan section earlier a shot crippled against nan Northwestern Wildcats astatine Wrigley Field successful Chicago, Illinois, connected Nov. 15, 2025. (Ben Hsu/Icon Sportswire)

"That’s not really I spot it, no. Listen, it’s easy for group to say, well, Warde’s nan leader, and truthful this is not conscionable a review, this is an investigation of what nan leader has done. That’s not, to me, what I’m going to beryllium taking distant from this. … And I’m not claiming that I can’t beryllium better. … We’ve had our issues, and we woody pinch them, and we effort to amended each time."

Manuel declined to measurement successful connected Sherrone Moore’s sentencing, alternatively voicing support and expressing dream that everyone tin move forward.

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"I want Sherrone to get done this and to move guardant for him and his family, and truthful I don’t person a guidance to nan sentencing itself, much of a guidance to him arsenic a person. ... I want him and everyone who’s affected to beryllium capable to get done it, to move forward, and to study from it and to beryllium better. That’s nan measurement I deliberation astir it. I don’t judge immoderate of nan outcomes aliases nan things that he’s going through."

Moore faced up to 5 years successful situation connected location penetration and stalking charges aft his dismissal from Michigan. He avoided prison aft pleading to lesser charges and was ordered to person nary interaction pinch his erstwhile assistant.

Kyle Whittingham near Utah to switch Moore arsenic Michigan’s caput coach.

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