VCU AD Teague leaves for job at Minnesota

Jim Swing

Sports Editor

After six years at the helm, VCU Director of Athletics Norwood Teague announced Monday afternoon he is leaving the Rams organization for the same title at the University of Minnesota.

Teague was hired by VCU in July of 2006 after having worked in athletic departments at the University of Virginia, Arizona State and the University of North Carolina. He was rumored over the weekend to be the sole finalist in Minnesota’s search for a new athletic director, and the hire was made official Monday.

Pending approval by the university’s Board of Regents, Teague will start the job July 1.

“Saying its difficult to leave VCU is an understatement for me personally. The past six years have been a special experience for me,” Teague said in a release. “I cannot thank the VCU community adequately. There are so many people that I owe my gratitude. It’s an amazing place that will continue to ascend. I will deeply miss the VCU family but know our paths will cross often.”

Their paths will most certainly cross in November when both VCU and Minnesota men’s basketball programs take part in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament held in Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Teague will replace current Minnesota athletic director Joe Maturi, who is set to retire on June 30. In his introductory press conference at Minnesota, Teague said one of the major influences in his decision to leave VCU was his desire to be at a school with a football program. For years the question of whether or not to build a foundation for football at VCU has lingered around the school’s higher ups.

During his tenure with the organization, Teague wasn’t able to bring football to VCU, but he did leave a lasting impression.

“VCU athletics have excelled during Norwood’s tenure, raising our stature as a national public research university,” VCU President Michael Rao said in the release. “The VCU community and fans across the country revel in winning on and off the playing fields. As a university, we are particularly proud of the academic success of our student-athletes.”

Since being hired at VCU in 2006 by then-President Eugene Trani, Ph.D., Teague has made his mark on multiple areas of the school’s athletic department.

One of his most significant accomplishments came when he hired men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart, a booming young star that has led the program to two NCAA Tournament appearances in his three years at the school.

Teague hired Smart after the departure of head coach Anthony Grant, who left VCU in 2009 for the same position at Alabama.

Grant slipped away, but Teague somehow managed to keep Smart even after the 35-year-old led his team to the  NCAA’s Final Four in 2011 and Round of 32 a year later.

“Norwood Teague had a profound effect on my life and career. He took an interest in me as a young assistant coach, gave me a phenomenal opportunity at VCU and wholeheartedly supported us every step of the way over the past three years,” Smart said in the release. “He demonstrated an uncommon loyalty and genuine care for me as a coach and as a person. Norwood is a terrific communicator who has a fantastic way with people. He will find great success at Minnesota.” CT