David Jesse, and Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

As college football dignitaries gathered in early December in New York for the National Football Foundation's annual awards ceremony, representatives from Turnkey Sports and Entertainment were there, as well, having quiet conversations with those interested in the athletic director opening at Michigan, its newest client.

Among those talked to was Warde Manuel, the athletic director at Connecticut and favorite of many to become U-M's AD.

When Turnkey asked him whether he was interested in the job, Manuel said he was all in.

"I said, 'Do you really need me to answer that?'" Manuel told reporters today. "They said they needed to hear me say it. I said, 'Hell yes.'"

About two months after those initial conversations, Manuel was introduced today by U-M president Mark Schlissel, taking over from interim athletic director Jim Hackett.

While the consultants from Turnkey and an advisory committee of U-M stakeholders helped guide Schlissel, several people with knowledge of the search process said the decision to hire Manuel came directly from Schlissel.

While in New York, Manuel talked with former U-M athletic director Bill Martin about the job. Manuel worked under Martin in the U-M athletic department.

“We talked about his career, where he’s going, and Michigan and the opportunity here,” Martin said. “I think he would have been, at that time, very excited.”

Manuel thought the conversations in New York went well, those with ties to him told the Free Press. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly.

After he left New York, Manuel didn't hear much from U-M nor its representatives until around the holidays. He was asked to hold Jan. 20 open for a further interview.

Manuel flew in Jan. 20 and met in a metro Detroit hotel with Schlissel and a couple others. Schlissel asked the majority of questions in the 90-minute-plus conversation, those with knowledge of the talks told the Free Press. A follow-up phone conversation took place between Schlissel and Manuel three days later. It lasted about an hour.

In the time period between Hackett's announcement in December that he didn't want to be the permanent athletic director and Schlissel making his decision, several former U-M football players started emailing decision makers within the university, touting Manuel as the best candidate.

Manuel played football at U-M under Bo Schembechler, until a neck injury ended his football career. He then transitioned into the athletic department.

Jamie Morris was on the football team with Manuel for two years at U-M, in 1987-88

“He’s a team-player type guy,” said Morris, who worked in development at U-M while Manuel was overseeing individual sports in the athletic department. “He’s going to put people in place who he trusts and he believes in, and he’s expecting them to do their jobs.”

Manuel was around as Michigan went through three ADs: Joe Roberson, Tom Goss and Martin.

“He came up in the athletic department, so he understands what goes on there,” Morris said. “He worked in many areas of the athletic department. He’s seen how things run as the administrator of football. He understands football. He played football. ... He knows the ropes of how to be an athletic director, but he went out and actually was on the job.”

The job offer was made to Manuel earlier this week. He and his wife flew into Ann Arbor on Thursday and were scheduled to be at a private event hosted by Schlissel on Thursday evening, before today's formal introduction.

Takeaways from the presser:

Sharp: Manuel a good fit at U-M, if he knows his place

Manuel used U-M as model while Buffalo AD

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj.