UConn's athletic director is leaving to take the same job at Michigan, sources tell NBC Connecticut sports director Kevin Nathan.
Warde Manuel was hired at UConn in 2012. Before that, he led a 20-sport program at the University of Buffalo between 2005 and 2012.
Manuel, who was a high school All-American football player and played for the University of Michigan under coach Bo Schembechler, as named an assistant athletic director at Michigan in February 1998.
One source told Kevin Nathan that Manuel could be announced at Michigan on Friday.
UConn athletic director Warde Manuel declined to comment about the potential job to the Associated Press, but said he is proud of his accomplishments during his four years at UConn.
UConn President Susan Herbst told the AP that Manuel is a finalist for the job at Michigan, his alma mater, and she expects an announcement from that school in the next couple days.
A statement from UConn says that Manuel would be the appropriate person to address any questions about his career path and aspirations.
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“From UConn's perspective, Warde is a fantastic athletic director and any institution would be lucky to have him,“ The statement says.
Michigan athletic director Jim Hackett said in a text message Wednesday morning: "Search is confidential until announcement."
Hackett has served as AD since Oct. 31, 2014, when he came out of retirement to replace Dave Brandon after he resigned. Hackett is on the school's advisory committee for its AD search, but pulled his own name out of the running.
