UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel isn't going anywhere. We know this because he said as much Wednesday in a statement issued by the university after a recent report that he was on the short list of candidates for the Virginia Tech AD job.
“I am not a candidate, have not been interviewed nor have I been contacted by Virginia Tech about its Director of Athletics position despite some recent media reports," Manuel said. "I am very happy as the Director of Athletics at UConn and look forward to continuing to work with President Herbst, my coaches, staff, student-athletes, donors and fans to enjoy a high level of continued success in athletics at UConn. I wish Virginia Tech all the best in their search to replace, one of the legends in our business, Jim Weaver.”
The report, which originated from Roanoke, Va. radio station WFIR and a show hosted by Greg Roberts, suggested that Manuel could be a candidate. According to the Hartford Courant, Roberts intimated that Manuel was a candidate because UConn was in the American Athletic Conference (after failed attempts to join the ACC), and he wanted to join a power conference, which meant a guaranteed path to the new college football playoff system.
"The writing is on the wall," Roberts said. "[Manuel] is trying to get in while the getting is good."
Turns out – at least to hear Manuel tell it – that Roberts misread the writing. And for now, he remains the AD at UConn.
In 2012, Manuel signed a five-year contract with UConn that pays him $450,000 annually. He has an option for a two-year extension. Manuel, who played college football at Michigan under Bo Schembechler arrived in Storrs from the University of Buffalo where he served as AD for six years.
