Who is Michigan president Kent Syverud? A ‘Super League’ backer who will decide AD’s fate

ANNARBOR,Mich.—KentSyverud,aMichiganlawschoolgraduatewhocallshimselfarabidWolverinesfan,willbethenewschool’snextpresident.He’llarriveatatimewhenMichigan’sathleticdepartmentisdealingwitharaftofmajorissuesinternallyandinthebroaderlandscapeofcollegesports. Inthepastfewmonthsalone,MichiganblockedaprivatecapitalplanproposedbytheBigTen,firedfootballcoachSherroneMooreforengaginginaninappropriaterelationshipwithastaffmemberandhiredformerUtahcoachKyleWhittinghamasMoore’sreplacement.FollowingMoore’sfiringandsubsequentarrest,MichiganauthorizedthelawfirmJenner&Blocktoinvestigatethecultureandpracticesoftheschool’sathleticdepartment,whichhasdealtwithaseriesofscandalsunderathleticdirectorWardeManuel. Decisionsrelatedtocollegesportsrepresentasmallpartofauniversitypresident’sjob,butthosedecisionsareoftenmagnified,especiallyataschoollikeMichigan.Syverud,whowaspartofathinktankcalledCollegeSportsTo