UConn names new athletic director

Storrs, Conn. (WTNH) - The University of Connecticut announced Sunday that they have named a new athletic director.

In a press release, the university stated that Warde J. Manuel has had a distinguished career in intercollegiate athletics ranging from being a student-athlete to a director of athletics.

Manuel was a 1990 graduate of the University of Michigan, where he played both football and track & field. Most recently, he served as the Director of Athletics at the University of Buffalo for the past six years.

University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst expressed her excitement about the recent decision.

“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.

Manuel shared a similar sentiment.

"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."

The University of Connecticut will hold a press conference at 10:15 Monday morning to formally introduce Manuel as the new Director of Athletics. The press conference will take place in the main team meeting room of The Burton Family Football Complex.