---
title: "Michigan Opens National Search for Athletic Director"
url: https://www.hereannarbor.com/2026/10/27/michigan-athletic-director-search-begins-ann-arbor/
date: 2026-10-27T06:47:03-04:00
modified: 2026-10-27T08:35:19-04:00
author: "Ian Alvarez"
categories: ["Sports"]
site: "HERE Ann Arbor"
attribution: "HERE Ann Arbor"
---

# Michigan Opens National Search for Athletic Director

> ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor formally started looking for its next athletic director on Monday, Oct. 26, opening a national search to replace Warde Manuel before he leaves at the end of the year. Two presidents are steering the process: current president Domenico Grasso and his successor, Cybele Raver,

*Source: [HERE Ann Arbor](https://www.hereannarbor.com/2026/10/27/michigan-athletic-director-search-begins-ann-arbor/) — October 27, 2026 by Ian Alvarez*

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor formally started looking for its next athletic director on Monday, Oct. 26, opening a national search to replace Warde Manuel before he leaves at the end of the year.

Two presidents are steering the process: current president Domenico Grasso and his successor, Cybele Raver, who takes office Dec. 1 as the school’s 17th leader. Raver will make the choice, pending a vote of the Board of Regents.

The school brought in the search firm ZRG Turnkey to build and screen a candidate list. Its founder, Michigan graduate Len Parna, also helped the university hire Manuel in 2016, men’s basketball coach Dusty May in 2024 and football coach Kyle Whittingham last December.

Members of the public can send nominations and ideas by email to UMNominations@ZRGPartners.com.

Manuel, athletic director since January 2016, agreed in July to step aside after an outside review of the athletic department. His final day is Dec. 31, and the university will pay him $7,143,346 within 21 days of his resignation. The school spent $12 million on legal work tied to the firing of former football coach Sherrone Moore and a review of the department’s culture.