Warde Manuel
Warde Joseph Manuel (born May 22, 1968) is an American college athletics administrator and former American football player. On January 29, 2016, he was named the 13th Director of Athletics at his alma mater, the University of Michigan. He was named the Director of Athletics at the University of Connecticut on February 12, 2012. From August 29, 2005 to February 12, 2012, Manuel was the athletic director at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. Prior to arriving at Buffalo, Manuel was an associate athletic director at the University of Michigan. Early life and playing  career. Manuel played high school football at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans. He was a first team high school All-American. He was recruited and enrolled at the University of Michigan where he played defensive tackle for the Wolverines from 1986 to 1989, for coach Bo Schembechler, before suffering a career-ending neck injury. Administrative career. Manuel developed his management skills as assistant athletic director and then associate AD at the University of Michigan. He credits Michigan coaches and staff for his success, including Bo Schembechler, Stephen Ross, and Greg Harden, now Director of Athletic Counseling at U -M. Manuel was responsible for the hiring of Turner Gill as the head coach of Buffalo's football team. Under Gill the team achieved its first winning season and first invitation to a post season bowl game since the program joined NCAA Division I athletics in 1999. Manuel has helped change Buffalo's image and marketing strategy. Immediately after he took office, Manuel replaced the old "Bull Head" logo with a sleeker, more modern bull. Manuel also increased the athletics budget from $11 million to $25 million within three years of his hiring.