University of Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague resigned on Friday after being accused of sexual harassment.
Teague said that the incident happened about two weeks about. Minnesota president Eric Kaler said in a letter to the school community that Teague sexually harassed two non-student school employees, but didn’t give any details of the harassment, according to the Associated Press. On the day of the incident Teague had drank too much and sent “inappropriate texts” to his colleagues. The “inappropriate texts” were reported as sexual harassment.
"After careful and painful consideration, I've decided to leave the University of Minnesota," Teague said in a statement to KARE 11 TV. "At a recent University event, I had entirely too much to drink. I behaved badly towards nice people and sent truly inappropriate texts. I apologize to everyone involved. This neither reflects my true character or true character of this great, great university. I've taken immediate steps to get help with my alcohol issues and I take full responsibility for my actions."
Teague was hired by Minnesota in 2012 to replace Joel Maturi.Before then he had been the athletic director at Virginia Commonwealth University. He planned to raise about $200 million so that Minnesota could get new practice facilities for football and men’s basketball. In the first year he helped raise about $70 million, according to ESPN. Teague fired Tubby Smith and hired Richard Pitino as the men’s basketball coach and replaced Pam Borton with Marlene Stollings as the women’s basketball coach.
Beth Goetz, who is Minnesota’s deputy athletic director and senior woman administrator, will become the school’s interim athletic director.