He was named Athletic Director of the year in 2015.
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He was hired as Buffalo’s athletic director in 2005 and was responsible for hiring Turner Gill to be the school’s head football coach. He also oversaw the athletics program’s transition from the Big East to the AAC.
UConn athletic director Warde Manuel declined to comment about the potential job, but says he is proud of his accomplishments during his four years at UConn.
Manuel steps in to officially replace Jim Hackett, who had held the post of interim athletic director since October 2014 following the resignation of David Brandon. We don’t like other universities or other university presidents to speak for us…
Since Manuel took over at UConn in 2012, the Huskies have won six national championships, including three straight titles in women’s basketball. He announced in December that he did not want to be considered for the permanent position. An eight-person search committee, which included Schlissel and Hackett, was tasked with finding the next athletic director.
Nearly as noteworthy, Manuel would bring with him athletic department experience, unlike several of his predecessors.
In September 2014, due to miscommunication, former MI football coach Brady Hoke, who Brandon hired, kept then-sophomore quarterback Shane Morris on the field after Morris suffered a “probable, mild concussion”.
Another controversy during his time involved Brendan Gibbons’ alleged rape of a MI student – the player was suspended years after the allegations had been made.
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“I’m looking for the best person for the job”, Schlissel said. “I think that UConn is going to be successful for many, many decades”.
