Michigan Athletic Director Resigns Amid Controversy
Published at(ANN ARBOR, Mi.) — Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon stepped down from his position Friday, after an unrelenting wave of controversy.
Among the issues at hand are rising student ticket prices, the poor performance of the football team and the handling of quarterback Shane Morris after he suffered what was later diagnosed with a concussion. Morris was allowed to re-enter a game against Minnesota after visually showing signs of injury.
“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,” said Mark Schlissel, the university’s president.
Schlissel named former Michigan football player Jim Hackett as interim athletic director. Hackett is a member of the board of advisors for two athletic programs at Michigan.
Students and fans had begun to protest around campus demanding the removal of Brandon from office. After the incident with Morris and the response from Brandon in the days after the intensity of the protests only increased.
Brandon had been the school’s athletic director since 2010. He was previously the CEO of Domino’s Pizza.
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