University of Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel spoke publicly for the first time since the firing of football head coach Sherrone Moore, who was terminated earlier this month over an “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member.

“There’s not much I can say,” Manuel, 57, told reporters on Sunday, December 28. “There’s an investigation continuing into Coach Moore — there’s a cultural evaluation around the department — and so we will we obviously know some facts. There’s some things that are out there that I can’t comment on, that are untrue, and there may be some things that they find, but that’s why we do an investigation, and I’m very open to that.”

Earlier this month, it was reported that Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block is conducting an investigation into the University of Michigan athletics department, with Moore’s firing being “a particular focus.”

“I asked the President to help with a cultural analysis and have somebody come in,” Manuel explained. “So yes, I am very supportive of that, because as a leader, I face reality. There are things that happen. I don’t step away from it. Never have, never will. So we need to get better, and that’s part of it, getting somebody to come in and to assess.”

Details Emerge About ‘Weird Dynamic’ Between Sherrone Moore and Staff Member

Manuel fired Moore, 39, on December 10 after a university internal investigation uncovered evidence of Moore’s relationship with the female staffer. 

“Listen man, it’s hard,” Manuel said on Sunday. “It’s hard when you have a colleague that is going through something personally, professionally, in his family and [knowing the] people and impact that it has on so many staff, student-athletes and the Michigan community.”

Manuel added, “Personally, I’ve known him for seven or eight years, so it was difficult to see him, as a person, go through what he went through. But professionally, it was an easy decision to make because of the expectations that we have for everyone on our side.”

Hours after his termination, Moore allegedly broke into the staff member’s apartment and threatened to harm her and take his own life. 

Moore was arrested on December 10 and subsequently charged with one count of third-degree felony home invasion, one count misdemeanor stalking related to a domestic relationship and one count misdemeanor breaking and entering.

The former coach was released on $25,000 bond and ordered to wear a GPS tracking monitor, in addition to dropping all contact with the staff member. 

Sherrone Moore’s Accuser Lived at Same Complex as Michigan Football Players

Moore is expected back in court on January 22. 

Former University of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham was officially named as the University of Michigan’s new head football coach on Friday, December 26. 

“Kyle Whittingham is a well-respected and highly successful head coach who is widely recognized as a leader of exceptional character and principled leadership,” Manuel said in a statement. “Throughout our search, he consistently demonstrated the qualities we value at Michigan: vision, resilience, and the ability to build and sustain championship-caliber teams.”

The statement continued, “Kyle brings not only a proven track record of success, but also a commitment to creating a program rooted in toughness, physicality, discipline and respect — where student-athletes and coaches represent the university with distinction both on and off the field. We are excited to welcome Kyle to the University of Michigan family as he takes the helm of our football program.”

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