Warde Manuel of the Michigan Wolverines named best athletic director in the country
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, who has been both praised and vilified by Michigan fans over the past year, has been honored with the John L. Toner Award, given to the nation’s top athletic director.
The award, presented by the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame, was announced Tuesday by Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti on the first day of Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis.
Also, a dozen players were nominated for preseason honors on the first day of Big Ten media days, including three from Michigan — defensive tackle Mason Graham, cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland. Ohio State, the favorite to win the Big Ten in the preseason according to an informal newspaper poll, has four players on the list.
Manuel, a former Michigan football player and athletic director before being hired as athletic director in 2016, is in his first year as chairman of the College Football Playoff selection process as the playoff plans to expand. In December, he will receive the Toner Award, given to an athletic director who demonstrates “outstanding commitment to college sports, particularly college football.”
He was criticized by Michigan fans last year for his treatment of former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who led the Wolverines to a national championship before joining the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL, and letting him go. Manuel also made Harbaugh serve a three-game suspension imposed by the school early last season because of an NCAA investigation into improper recruiting during the COVID-19 pause.
Michigan remains under investigation for alleged sign-stealing. Petitti and the Big Ten suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the regular season, and Manuel issued a heated statement in response.
More: Netflix releases “Sign Stealer” documentary about Michigan football player and Connor Stallions
It may seem strange that Petitti made this announcement, but on the field after the national title game, Manuel said he had no problem with Petitti.
“My relationship with Tony is fine and we will get through whatever comes our way,” Manuel said in January. “He’s a good person and he made the choice and decision he felt was necessary. I didn’t agree with it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like the person.”
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