The Wall Street Journal's exclusive reporting, based on a copy of the handwritten note, indicates that the University of Michigan failed to act on early warning signs concerning former football coach Sherrone Moore's inappropriate behavior. The university's athletic director, Warde Manuel, reportedly cautioned Moore in August 2024 about his executive assistant, Paige Shiver, with whom Moore was having a long-standing affair, stating she could not accompany him on official trips. This contradicts the university's public stance of not having actionable evidence until Shiver admitted to the affair in December.
The probe, conducted by law firm Jenner & Block and costing the university nearly $12 million, uncovered text messages between Moore and Shiver detailing personal issues, including her postpartum depression after an abortion in summer 2022, and an allegation of her "acting inappropriately in Moore's office." Multiple members of the athletic department, including players and staffers, had reportedly voiced concerns about the pair's conduct to officials, raising questions about whether leadership adequately addressed these reports. A federal lawsuit filed by a former football coach also alleges Manuel and other leaders knew about the relationship "for years without taking action."
The University of Michigan has refused to release the full findings or underlying documents from the investigation, citing attorney-client privilege, privacy concerns, and a desire to "preserve the integrity of the investigative process." Despite the significant cost and apparent discovery of early warnings, a university spokesman stated the school has no plans to publicly release the probe's details. Paige Shiver's lawyers have sued the university under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act to obtain the investigative records, demanding transparency and accountability.
The summary of the investigation acknowledged "unique oversight challenges" due to the football program's prominence, recommending stronger leadership oversight, clarified responsibilities, enhanced reporting relationships, and improved compliance processes. Despite the Board of Regents meeting shortly after these reports surfaced, the investigation or Manuel's future were not on the public agenda, though a presidential comment on the investigation's status was anticipated.
