UB athletic director heads to UConn

The athletic director at the University at Buffalo has accepted a new position at the University of Connecticut.  Warde Manuel will be introduced today as U-Conn's new A-D. 

Manuel will become the first African-American Athletic Director in that school's history.  The 43-year-old Manuel has led UB athletics since the summer of 2005.  His new position will pay him $450,000 a year, and includes an additional 100-thousand dollars in performance incentives over the next five years.

"I am so honored and excited to come to the University of Connecticut," said Manuel. "UConn is synonymous with greatness, excellence and achievement. It is without a doubt one of the legendary schools that is at the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics. The opportunity to be the athletics director at UConn and lead this extraordinary division is the role of a lifetime. You have remarkable coaches, great leadership, outstanding student-athletes and a wonderful base of fans, alumni and supporters. Our focus will be on academic success, compliance, ensuring great relationships with our fans, friends and supporters and, without a doubt, victory on the field and the court. My family and I are so happy to call UConn home."

"We are incredibly proud and thrilled that Warde will be joining the Husky family," said Herbst. "UConn is one of the great American universities and our athletics program is the envy of many. It's because of this that we were able to attract an amazing pool of candidates from across the nation - and an ideal, stand-out candidate of Warde's exceptionally-high caliber. He will play the integral, and even transformational, role in the future of UConn athletics. It's a great day for this university."

University at Buffalo president Satish K. Tripathi issued the following  statement on Manuel's new appointment:

Dear University Community:

Last night, University of Connecticut announcedthe appointment of Warde Manuel as their next Athletic Director, effective March 12, 2012.  While it is difficult to bid farewell to such a valued colleague and university citizen, Warde’s selection to lead one of the nation’s top Division I programs reflects the national reputation he has achieved through his outstanding leadership and impressive achievements here at UB.

Since his appointment in July 2005, Warde has served our university and the UB Division of Athletics with distinction, raising UB athletics’ national profile and helping to build a nationally competitive Division I program dedicated to the pursuit of academic and athletic excellence.

Warde’s intense commitment to excellence – on and off the field – has been evident across UB men’s and women’s athletics programs.  The impressive accomplishments achieved under his watch include the 2008 football team’s Mid-American Conference Championship and first bowl game appearance in UB’s history with the 2009 International Bowl.  In 2007, under Warde’s leadership, the UB Athletics Department became the only school in the nation that year to be named a Program of Excellence by the NCAA Division I-A Athletic Directors.

With a strong focus on academics always at the forefront, Warde also has overseen a substantial investment in facility additions and renovations that have contributed immensely to our student-athletes’ academic and athletic experience.

A national search for a new Athletic Director will begin immediately.  We will update the university community regarding an interim director this week.

In the meantime, I know I speak for our entire university community in extending my sincere thanks, congratulations, and best wishes to Warde as he takes on this new leadership opportunity.  Please join me in wishing Warde and his family much happiness and continued success as they prepare for this exciting transition.

Sincerely,

Satish K. Tripathi

President

http://www.uconnhuskies.com/genrel/021212aad.html