The official announcement will be coming today.
University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler will introduce Norwood Teague as the university’s next director of athletics during a news conference at 2:45 p.m. today, Monday, April 23 in the Murray Warmath Gopher locker room at TCF Bank Stadium, 2009 University Ave. S.E., Minneapolis.
Let us get to know Mr. Teague a little bit.
The Resume...
- 2006-2012 - VCU, Athletic Director
- 2001-2006 - University of North Carolina, Associate Athletic Director where he oversaw external operations such the Tar Heels’ multimedia property, marketing, and licensing
- 1999-2001 - Arizona State, general manager of the Sun Devil Sports Network
- 1998-1999 - University of North Carolina, headed up new programs for Vilcom Sports and The Tar Heel Sports Network
- 1993-1998 - University of Virginia, Director of Marketing, and then served as the Director of Operations for the Cavaliers’ men’s basketball program
- Masters in Sports Administration from Ohio University (1992)
- Undergrad degree from University of North Carolina in political science (1988)
The References...
Roy Williams -North Carolina basketball
"Norwood's enthusiasm and work ethic is what makes him so special. Because of that, I look for him to accomplish great things for VCU. He has an incredibly bright future."
Al Golden - Miami football
"I have known Norwood since our days working together at UVa. He did a fantastic job back then for the football program, and his work with the basketball program at VCU has drawn national recognition. I know he will continue to do terrific things in his career."
Billy Donovan - Florida basketball
"I have admired the job Norwood has done at VCU. The guy is a terrific AD, and his results are obvious. He has hired ultra successful coaches, not only with basketball, but other sports as well. He continue to raise the bar across the board at VCU."
Mary Jo Kane - co-chair of hiring committee
"One of the things that was most impressive about Shaka Smart is that [Teague] kept him there," Kane said. "[Teague] gets it when it comes to being in a very challenging environment and being successful. ... And winning here in football is a really tough environment."
and
"We asked tough questions. When he left the room, we all said, 'Wow, that was impressive,'" Kane said, adding later: "Football -- the lack of overseeing a big college football program where he was a decider, if you will -- is the most obvious gap in his profile. ... I can look anyone who cares about Gopher athletics in the eye and say, 'This will not be a problem.'"
My Comments
Obviously lacking a football program at VCU is the obvious hole in the resume. I don't know how concerned I am about this yet.
On the one hand he has shown tremendous success in many other critical areas of the job. He has a proven track record of hiring outstanding coaches, Shaka Smart being at the top of this list. He has experience with fund raising, marketing and broadcasting of athletics. Prior to his time at VCU he was working in high level athletic departments that did in fact have football programs so it isn't as though he has never understood the value of or what it takes to field a football team. Your previous jobs and the entirety of those experiences is what prepares you for a high level positions such as AD of a BCS level athletic department.
But then of course someone with a proven track record of fielding a quality football program would make this hire more comforting. Some might equate this to hiring a football coach with no previous head coaching or even coordinator experience. That is certainly an extreme exaggeration but you get the point.
Time will tell but those who have been a part of the process seem to be enamored with Mr. Teague.