University of Michigan faces significant leadership questions following Athletic Director Warde Manuel’s planned departure, and transparency will be critical as the school works to rebuild confidence in its athletics department, according to award-winning author John U. Bacon.
Bacon, a longtime University of Michigan insider, appeared Wednesday (July 22) on Local 4 News to discuss Manuel’s decision to step down, an independent review of the athletics department and the search for new leadership.
Manuel’s departure
The university announced this week that Manuel will leave his role as athletic director at the end of the calendar year.
Interim President Domenico Grasso also announced Manuel will serve as a special adviser to help implement reforms recommended by the independent review.
Grasso said the university has “significant work ahead” to restore Michigan athletics as a model program on and off the field.
Questions about review transparency
Bacon questioned the university’s handling of the independent review, noting officials previously described the investigation as one that would “leave no stone unturned.”
“The whole thing just makes no sense from a public relations point of view,” Bacon said. “I’m not quite sure what they’re trying to accomplish.”
Bacon also criticized the university’s decision not to publicly release a written report of the review, despite the review’s reported $12 million cost.
He acknowledged the university’s concerns about protecting employees who came forward during the investigation, but said greater transparency is appropriate for a public institution.
“This is a public university,” Bacon said. “That money comes from taxpayers, from donors, from ticket holders.”
Bacon pointed to the university’s release of the report into former team Dr. Robert Anderson’s sexual abuse as an example of balancing transparency with protecting victims’ identities.
Assessing Manuel’s tenure
Asked to assess Manuel’s tenure, Bacon said the outgoing athletic director oversaw major athletic accomplishments, including national championships in football and men’s basketball, Big Ten titles and strong academic performance by student-athletes.
At the same time, he said NCAA investigations, lawsuits and other off-the-field controversies overshadowed Manuel’s tenure.
“I don’t see him as a conductor of scandals,” Bacon said. “Perhaps neglect, not watching things as closely as he should have.”
Search for new leadership
As the Michigan Wolverines begin their search for a new athletic director, Bacon mentioned several experienced figures who could provide leadership during the transition, including former Eastern Michigan and Pittsburgh Athletic Director Heather Lyke, former Michigan administrator and current DePaul athletic director DeWayne Peevy, former Michigan basketball coach John Beilein and retired softball coach Carol Hutchins.
Bacon also said he expects the university to move quickly in its search for a permanent president after previous plans to hire Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud fell through because of health issues.
“I do think it’s going to happen quite quickly,” Bacon said. “I bet by the fall.”
More: Michigan football great Jamie Morris reacts to Warde Manuel stepping down as athletic director