Embattled Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon will resign today, according to a report from ESPN's Brett McMurphy. According to McMurphy, the school will hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon to announce Brandon's departure from the program.
BREAKING: University of Michigan AD Dave Brandon will resign. (via @McMurphyESPN) pic.twitter.com/rlzBDRFhdD
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 31, 2014The news comes as a relief to many Michigan fans. During his tenure, Brandon was notorious for price gouging, a dismissive, unfriendly attitude toward Michigan alumni and supporters, and the rampant commercialization of the program. Brandon was wildly unpopular among the student body, and received further criticism for the program's mishandling of the rape accusations levied against former Wolverines kicker Brendan Gibbons.
This season, Brandon and Michigan head coach Brady Hoke came under fire after the program failed to properly diagnose and treat a concussion suffered by Wolverines quarterback Shane Morris during their September 27 game against Minnesota. The incident was a tipping point for the public's opinion of Brandon and Hoke. As a result, Brandon is now out of a job. It is likely that Hoke will make his exit from the program as well, if not now, then certainly by the end of the year.
Stay tuned for more developments to the story.
UPDATE:
From University of Michigan president Mark Schlissel, via ESPN.com:
Dave feels that it would be in the best interest of our student-athletes, the athletic department and the university community if he moved on to other challenges and allowed the important work of the department and the university to continue without daily distractions.
...
I think we need the very best person possible to do this job. Certainly, people that have a connection to Michigan know many things about the university. I can tell you, though, despite the fact that I've only been here for about 110 days, I feel like a Michigan man already.
Jim Hackett, a former Michigan football player, will serve as Michigan's interim AD until he and Schlissel are able to find a suitable, long-term replacement for Brandon.
