On Saturday, just five days after it was announced<\/a> that Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel will step down at the end of the calendar year, Manuel\u2019s buyout was obtained<\/a> by The Detroit News. He will receive over $7 million, along with additional compensation.<\/p>\n Until he leaves at the end of the calendar year, Manuel will obtain his typical monthly salary. Within 21 days of his resignation, he will also receive a lump-sum payment of $7,143,346 in addition to a retirement contribution that will total $108,000. Manuel will also have access to former athletic directors\u2019 usual benefits of sports tickets and golf privileges. As part of the settlement, Manuel signed a non-compete clause, barring him from working as an athletic director or high-ranking advisor at any other Big Ten school for the next two years.<\/p>\n Manuel signed the settlement agreement on July 17, 2026, just three days before University of Michigan president Domenico Grasso announced<\/a> Manuel\u2019s resignation, but the settlement wasn\u2019t released until a week later. The announcement of Manuel\u2019s departure came on the tail end of the Jenner & Block investigation into the athletic department that found issues within the department\u2019s management.<\/p>\n Although Manuel is leaving following multiple scandals, the most recent of which was the firing<\/a> and subsequent arrest of former football coach Sherrone Moore, he\u2019s also leaving with multiple national championships \u2014 and a large sum of money to compensate for his 11 years in charge.<\/p>\n