The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
Manuel extended the contract of Huskies' basketball coach Kevin Ol- lie, once Ollie demonstrated he could elevate the academics surrounding the program of former coach Jim Cal- houn. Ollie's contract was extended again after the Huskies' 2014 run to the national championship, Kidwai noted. "He's a great guy," Kidwai said. "He understands the role and impor- tance of an athletic department for a school. He very clearly understands the importance of keeping the aca- demic side of it. He's done an amaz- ing job at UConn." With the longtime Harbaugh con- nection in place, Kidwai foresees no friction there. "Warde played football, he played football at Michigan, and Jim Har- baugh was a former teammate, so that should go a long way," Kidwai insisted. "A lot of times when there is tension between an athletic director and a football coach, it's because of a lack of understanding. "Being part of that fraternity of people who have played football, be- ing a former teammate of Jim Har- baugh, that's going to go a really long way." Carr remains a key part of the Michigan football fraternity, and he stressed that Manuel made a very wise move in his stints at Buffalo and UConn. "He's been out on his own as an AD for 10 years," Carr said. "That's where you learn there are certain things from a leadership standpoint — that you'd better be consistent, and you'd better be clear." Manuel sounds perfectly clear that Manuel served as the Director of Athletics at Connecticut from 2012-16, and was lauded for the coaching hires and facility upgrades he had a hand in. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN FOOTBALL