Fire Warde Manuel
Warde is basically just a nicer Dave Brandon at this point. I get that he isn't going to keep every good coach at Michigan but at some point you have to ask yourself why he can't keep John Beilein, Erik Bakich, Jim Harbaugh, Adam Steinberg (M Tennis), Jesse Minter, Ben Herbert, Mike Elston etc. That's a lot. You have his administrative issues like Zavier Simpson, Shemy, NIL, Mel Pearson, not backing Jim Harbaugh with the TRO/NCAA stuff. He doesn't want to fire Juwan when the men's basketball team is perhaps the worst non mid-major team in the country. Michigan's nonrevenue sports are tracking downward besides wrestling. Everything he does takes forever and sometimes doesn't get done like Harbaugh's contract, investigating if OSU hired the PI firm, or making a decision on Mel Pearson. If Michigan doesn't fire him now, it will get worse. They will lose players to other schools with better NIL deals, they will lose more coaches, they will lose money from donors etc.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:50 PM ^
100% He is making things worse. Get rid of him. He is failing. Why Santa hasn't made a change is hard to understand.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:54 PM ^
About half of them are right and half are wrong. About Warde but I do think he needs to go for many reasons. The keeping of JB, Bakich Minter aren't on him. JB just hated the way College basketball was and now hates it so much more. Bakich leaves for a conference that is known for Baseball the Big Ten isn't and it is warmer in the spring. Minter was always destined to become NFL coach. Herbert not sure if the rumors are true but if so then Warde fucked up. The hires of Shemy and the other dude could be on Jim as much as Warde. The NIL is on Warde plus the way the school lets in recruits or players is on him. He can change it if he really pushes.
He really should have just gave Jim what he wanted. Warde has done more things wrong and his words of nothing and in action is also why he should be fired. Need a better AD for this university. Also Santa Ono and the regents need to get their heads out of their asses and start looking for a new AD also.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:28 PM ^
Would Warde have fought for Mark Few if he was the Gonzaga AD? And before you change the subject you know the answer. Sunshine and difficulties be damned he let Bakich go without a fight. He let Herbert go without a fight, he let Elston go without a fight.
The next time he says "What do I need to do to keep you with Michigan?" will be his first time.
He is running a deep discount athletic department and we are going to pay the price here soon and for a long time. Stop making excuses.
February 7th, 2024 at 10:08 PM ^
Have no idea if he would have fought for Few but at a school like Gonzaga you can't compare it to Michigan at all. To different worlds when it comes to Zags and Michigan. Do you know what he offered Bakich? The BiG Ten isn't the SEC when it comes to baseball. It is like the minor leagues compares to the majors in pro baseball. Just better teams and facilities for baseball in the SEC About 95% of the top talent goes to the SEC. It is more important there and is just bigger from a fan perspective also. Only way to maybe keep Bakich is overpay and way overpay him. Herbert do you know what was said or offered to him? No you don't but if the rumors are true and Warde didn't make an offer better then the NFL or close to it to keep BH then that's on Warde. Rumor was BH wanted a 10 year deal which would be hard when your coach only has a 5 year deal Also with Elston what was offered and what did Warde not do? We don't know. Maybe Elston was tired of working all the time and wanted more money to work less in the NFL? My guess would be Elston would pick more money and less work and time with his family no matter how much you love a University. I graduated from Michigan and can work for Michigan and have been offered but have declined even though I would make more money. But also I would not be at home as much and spend more time on the road. They would have had to overpay me quite a bit to get me to take their offer. I love Michigan and their sports but not enough to take away my time and my family time. Some people may love Michigan but not more then their families or short changing their life for the school.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:02 PM ^
Most users probably won’t see this as it is either at the end of over 100 comments or sandwiched in the middle of 300 but…
my frustrations with Warde are easy and complex. It’s not that he had coaches in place that had Michigan competing for National Championships in FOUR (4) sports and bungled all 4 situations. It’s that he is coming across as a genuinely lazy dude to people not in the program. Hackett got Harbaugh so we got our first inkling with Men’s Hockey. Legendary coach Red Berenson NEEDED to hang it up, no fault there. Oh look easy hire Mel Pearson is right there waiting for the call…perfect. Praise from the fans, praise from alums. Perfect.
Beilein is tired, we all know he’s tired. But that man can coach. Don’t let him walk, find ways to make it easier on him and keep him. Maybe he really did have that “can I do the NBA itch”, maybe he just wanted one last challenge, but Warde let a man with no agent walk away. Fine, I guess. Beilein’s players and culture and some staff are still around to keep this going. Oh, and Juwan is calling me and putting together his own staff, easy. Easy.
Bakich has men’s baseball humming, going up against Vandy with minimal resources? It would be easy to allocate funds to our head baseball coach from our comically large AD budget, that keeps getting bigger because our donors just need me to tell them “make out to…” because screw NIL. Meh, it’s just baseball. (Honestly I got so frustrated about the baseball situation I stopped following the team…and yes I feel guilty about it but the write up on the coaching hire just made me surrender cobra). Oh look a dude that needs a job and will coach in the snow! Pfft it’s just baseball.
“Oh man…I’ve got this report on Mel…let me just put it under this huge desk calendar and I’ll shred it when I retire in a couple deca… HOW’D THEY FIND OUT ABOUT THIS REPORT?!?!?!” What do I do now…maybe I can just keep Mel around without paying him? Wait this is actually work…”oh an update yeah, so. We’re not renewing his contract it’s a whole thing.” Ugh it’s hockey, they actually like this sport in Michigan. What to do. Well everyone seems to like Narauto…yeah let’s hire him. (I’m glad this seems to be working but man how many of these situations will he luck into?)
The football coaching is apparent and happening now so no need to rehash. Oh and then there’s Juwan hit a guy - slap on the hand don’t do it again / please don’t make me make a hard decision. You got in an altercation with beloved by all Sanderson? What if we transition him to a new role? But seriously Juwan don’t do it again.
and then there’s the lack of support or guidance. Basketball struggling “Warde, do something. Anything.” Man I’m just trying to eat my popcorn and see how the season turns out. That’s what you said last year!
(I intentionally left off softball because Hutch legit retired and it’s too early to tell as the new coach has a alleged different philosophy)
warde may be a truly great guy, he’s almost got be given the character of the people that he works with. But to me his “Make Money, Money” approach while always taking the path of least resistance / path that keeps his feet propped on his desk are destroying programs that took decades to build. Sorry for the ramble, most won’t read it anyway so… it’s fine. Good night and go blue.
February 7th, 2024 at 10:25 PM ^
JB left because he acted the way College Basketball was and was becoming. It has only gotten worse. So JB was gone no matter what you offered him. JB loved to teach the game of basketball and develop players and watch them evolve over time. He couldn't do that with the way players leave programs now days .
So it didn't matter in the end JB was gone no matter what even if he was paid highest coach in college ball.
Bakich same thing he left for the MLB after being in the minors. Unless you could offer Bakich some crazy amount and put a lot of money Into the baseball program where you lose money every year then maybe but that isn't how you run a business.
Hockey I don't really care about or follow but sure he could have handled that better. Juwan was a good hire and we had success and Juwan and the program hit some snags with both transfers and recruits being let in by the school or now the NCAA. Now the Bball team is in a place where we need to make some changes with Juwans asst coaches. Hopefully Warde will force his hand.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:13 PM ^
I keep reading bad news on MGoBlog. And I’m mad. Fire Brian!!!!! And Seth too!!!!
February 6th, 2024 at 10:47 PM ^
I remember when we won the national championship
Seems like so long ago
February 6th, 2024 at 10:48 PM ^
Man, this is over the top. Not one of the people the OP mentioned have gone to another school. They've gone to the pros, either because it's their dream, or because they can make more money. If they went to other schools, that's a problem. But our coaches are so good they draw the attention of the pros. That's not a problem, that's a sign of strength.
Plus, Jesus, Warde gets no credit for all the things going well in the athletic department (like, oh, a national championship in football, for Christ's sake, not to mention a remarkable hockey program), and all the blame for every little thing people are disappointed about. That's cherry-picking of the worst kind.
Also, I'll say it right here: I think he handled the Signgate crisis well. Everyone wants to blame him for ... I don't know. Accepting the suspension without fighting back? But we simply don't know what was going on behind the scenes. We don't know. And he managed to find a way to enable Harbaugh to coach during the week, and be back for the post-season. The punishment could have been so ... much ... worse. Seems to me, given how little we actually know what was going on (except that we were fighting it, until, after some back-room conversations, we backed down, which sure seems to suggest there was more going on than was made public), you could just as easily give Warde credit for finding a way out that didn't derail an amazing season.
(Oh. And Warde might well be planning on firing Juwan. But name the last big-time coach fired in the middle of the freaking season by any school! It doesn't happen, and people need to just wait until the off-season to go off the rails).
Ultimately, people need to stop hyperventilating, stop finding a need to blame someone for everything that disappoints them (Harbaugh left! Beilein left!), and enjoy everything that's good about Michigan sports. Whatever will be will be, but damn, man. Relax a bit.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:53 PM ^
Your reasonable take will not be tolerated!
February 6th, 2024 at 10:58 PM ^
Ha. Yeah. Probably not the place for it. Burn it all down!!!
February 6th, 2024 at 11:37 PM ^
Bakich didn’t go pro. Hockey is trending at the same level in spite of Warde. Whether it’s his fault or not he is the sitting AD during the collapse of basketball, the baseball downturn, and the unnecessary continued struggles of NIL for all athletes putting it on the line for the maize and blue. See my earlier posts about how he may be the luckiest AD on the planet. If he wants to tout being the leader and best, tOSU is putting their money where their mouth is and Michigan is what? Banking on good vibes and development to continue? His lack of support for and unwillingness to go to bat for Moore (this early on) will tank Moore’s HC career here and set the football program back years after just winning a National Championship.
February 7th, 2024 at 12:26 AM ^
We are a Clink away from losing the entire staff on defense, which suppose to be our strength into the next season. Whoever Moore is going to hire will either be underwhelming or cost a lot more than what takes to retaining Minter/Elston/Clink. And there is a non-trivial possibility that cost more and still underwhelming.
February 7th, 2024 at 12:26 AM ^
Exactly. Let's say that Warde did absolutely everything in his power to keep these coaches. He made them feel appreciated at Michigan. He asked them what he could do to keep them at Michigan (raising their salary, updating facilities, NIL etc). If after all of that, they bolted Michigan then it isn't his fault. It is hard for me to envision more than one or two of our best head and assistant coaches leaving as a coincidence and not Warde's fault at all as some people do. What other university loses so many good coaches in a 4 year span? But let's say that it isn't Warde's fault that so many good coaches left. He then hired Juwan who had never been a head coach and had never coached in the college game. He subsequently sabotaged the basketball program's NIL efforts leaving Hunter Dickinson to transfer. Now, he wants to keep Juwan around after the team is one of the worst in the country because Harbaugh who had previous success unlike Juwan turned it around. Softball and volleyball seem to be on the same trajectory with lazy hires. It's too early to tell with baseball. Every few months, there is some gaffe that makes the athletic department look incredibly stupid. We didn't vet Shemy's public social media pages before hiring him. We sat on the Mel Pearson situation for like 4 months and then had to fire him and install a new coach like one month before the season started. Even without Beilein, Bakich, Harbaugh, Minter, Herbert etc. there is a lot of bad there that a guy making over one million dollars a year at a high profile university and athletic department should avoid. It just seems weird that we're supposed to applaud him that he kept Harbaugh in 2020. That was a 50-50 decision that he got right because he doesn't do anything regardless of whether do nothing is the right decision or not.
February 6th, 2024 at 11:00 PM ^
We need a Fire Warde post everyday until it becomes a reality!
February 6th, 2024 at 11:47 PM ^
People who did not see exactly how this would play out...need to reevaluate. It was obvious and too many were in denial. Warde Manual is a mediocre, behind the curve, empty suit. He get beaten at this game over and over and over again. A total loser who has by the second week of Moore's tenure already made it very, very hard for him to succeed. There are very valid reasons JH hated the man. And if you did not see this a long time ago...you need to ask yourself why you had blind spots.
February 7th, 2024 at 12:31 AM ^
Honestly he shouldn’t have hired Sherrone Moore if Moore had no idea of the members of the staff he’d be able to retain and bring in. Coach Moore is the first coach I’ve seen in a while at a program this big that wasn’t able to bring in ONE coach of his own. I’ve sat in hiring meetings for coaches at a smaller level… the staff you’re bringing is literally the second or third question in an interview. Hell it’s worst because the outgoing coach probably communicated who he’d like to take with him. This… this is unacceptable and hasn’t given Coach Moore any chance to keep things going at the same clip of the last three years.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:01 AM ^
First Michigan AD to preside over an outright football National championship in 75 years. Clearly he's the worst AD Michigan has ever had.
February 7th, 2024 at 8:13 AM ^
OP's prior opinions aside, I tend to agree that Warde should be replaced within the next 6 months by a top notch experienced AD who has firgured out NIL.
Its tough to keep highly successful coaches with options to move to arguably better programs in better places to live, with better compensation options. Harbaugh leaving was inevitable and we should all thank him for sticking it out 9 years to see it through a National Championship. But that all happened despite Warde Manual not because of him. He just happened to be the AD at the time Harbaugh was here and his presence didn't win or lose us Harbaugh.
You mentioned baseball. Bakich was always going South after he had success (then the pandemic happened). I follow that program pretty closely and he clearly stopped seriously recruiting about two years before he left. He basically offered anyone from OLSM and a bunch of mediocre in state players and said some weird things about team diversity and playing games in the summer. But lets face it there are usually like 50 people (mostly parents of players) at our baseball games and no one really cares.
That being said, yeah, Warde needs to go but mainly because of the crash of the basketball team, issues with Howard and inability to figure out NIL not because of Tennis and Soccer coaches, or even his alleged lack of a relationship with Harbaugh.
BTW, Warde lived in my hall in South Quad and while I knew and hung out with a lot of football players, who were by and large good guys, he wasn't one of them. Guy seemed to have a massive chip on his shoulder and eventually that is going to show up in the wrong way.
Lets get someone in who has a business background.
February 7th, 2024 at 9:23 AM ^
Agree..Manuel has to GO!!!!!
February 7th, 2024 at 1:05 PM ^
I am literally sick to my stomach. Thanks Warde. Too late for a Warde vax, this disease could prove fatal to Michigan athletics, let alone football. Total failure to accomplish the objectives of the job.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:59 PM ^
There's a pattern here.