No matter how you spin the last few years surrounding Warde Manuel's leadership of the athletic department at the University of Michigan, it had always felt lik

The University of Michigan and embattled athletic director Warde Manuel have agreed to a buyout of the remaining years on his contract and he will step down at the end of the year.

Warde Manuel's tenure as AD at Michigan is ending after a tumultuous run that also included football and men's basketball national titles.