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Weaver helped guide VT to the
ACC in '04
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Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver had "not been planning to retire for a few more years," but his declining health "forced him to change that plan," according to a front-page piece by Mark Berman of the ROANOKE TIMES. Weaver, who has held the position since '97, yesterday said that he "will step down Dec. 31." The 68 year old was "diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease" in '04, and has undergone "five back operations in the past six years, most recently in January." He also learned two months ago that he "needs to have both his hips replaced." Weaver said, "It's just been too much ... I just think the time is right now for me to retire and spend time with my son and wife." Weaver had "said for years that he wanted to remain AD until his contract ends in December 2015, when he will be 70." But he began talking with VT President Charles Steger "about early retirement six weeks ago," and said that he "made up his mind about a month ago." Weaver added that Steger "did not force him to step down." VT Senior Associate AD & Senior Woman Administrator Sharon McCloskey will serve as interim AD beginning Jan. 1, "until a new athletic director is hired." Steger, who is stepping down next year, "hopes the search for a new athletic director will be completed by Feb. 1." He said that once the new president is chosen, he will "consult with him when choosing an athletic director." VT Associate AD/Internal Affairs Tom Gabbard and football coach Frank Beamer each said that they are "not interested in succeeding Weaver." Steger said that he will "seek Beamer's opinion during the search" (
ROANOKE TIMES, 11/13). In Virginia, Aaron McFarling in a front-page piece writes under the header, "Rigors Of Jim Weaver's Job Got In The Way Of Doing It" (
ROANOKE TIMES, 11/13).
LEAVING A LEGACY: The AP's Hank Kurz Jr. wrote Weaver has "shepherded Virginia Tech through two conference realignments and overseen vast facilities improvements" in his 16 years as AD. Weaver arrived in September '97, when VT "played football in the Big East and all other sports in the Atlantic 10." By '99, the Big East "invited the Hokies to become an all-sports member," and they moved again five years later, joining the ACC. VT under Weaver has "expanded Lane Stadium to its current capacity of 65,632, added luxury suites, and built a new football complex." The school also built a $20M basketball practice facility that opened in '09 (AP, 11/12). In DC, Mark Giannotto notes Weaver during his final years in office "helped negotiate home-and-home football series with Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn State, West Virginia and a 2016 game at Bristol Motor Speedway against Tennessee, a matchup that is expected to draw the largest crowd in college football history." Weaver last month was "nominated for the 2013 Discover Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/13). In Richmond, Mike Barber writes Weaver "leaves behind a legacy of growth" at VT, and is responsible for the "signing of the school’s first Nike contract" in '07 (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 11/13).
