
The University of Connecticut has hired Warde Manuel as its new athletic director.
Manuel had been the AD at the University of Buffalo for six years. UConn said Sunday that he would sign a five-year contract with the school holding the option for a two-year extension.
He will be paid a base salary of $450,000 and is eligible for a $100,000 performance incentive annually if certain academic and athletic goals are achieved and for another $100,000 in deferred compensation after five years.
A native of New Orleans, the 43-year-old played football and ran track at Michigan. He will be formally introduced Monday and will be the first African-American athletic director in UConn's history.
Jeff Hathaway retired under pressure as AD in August after UConn president Susan Herbst ordered an outside review of his handling of the department.
Copyright 2012 WFSB (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.