U of M Athletic Director Norwood Teague
Our Program on September 17th was a presentation by Norwood Teague, the Athletic Director at the University of Minnesota. Teague came to the Gophers after 6 years as Athletic Director at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. His work at VCU included setting up and implementing an updating of the facilities, raising the alumni support of the program including increasing the donations, and increasing GPAs and graduation rates for the athletes. Teague, 46, has a track record of successful tenures in his field.
He gave away no secrets and had no surprise announcements at our meeting. He told of his commitment to upgrade the practice facilities for all sports at the U, and talked of the fundraising that would be involved. He told the story of hiring Pitino, and how the secret of his hiring was known on the street almost immediately even though no announcement had been made.
A few stats he gave were interesting. The U gets about $25,000,000 a year for athletic TV rights. 86% of the student athletes graduate from the U within 6 years. The U has invested about a quarter of a million dollars in a student athlete who has a scholarship.
Of course, the subject of Jerry Kill was covered; Teague said that Coach Kill has done an excellent job of motivating the team, both academically and athletically, and that his seizures are a nonissue. As long as there is no damage to him, health will not be cause to terminate. As a matter of fact, he said, he is helping others with epilepsy by showing that a near-normal life can be led.