Jim Weaver (athletic director)
James C. Weaver (March 5, 1945 – July 2, 2015) was an American college football player and coach and college athletics administrator. He was the head football coach at Villanova University for the first eight games of the 1974 season, compiling a record of 3–5. Weaver was the athletic director at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from 1991 to 1994, Western Michigan University from 1996 to 1997, and Virginia Tech from 1997 to 2014.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 5, 1945 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 2015 (aged 70) Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1964–1966 | Penn State |
| Position(s) | Center, linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1967–1972 | Penn State (assistant) |
| 1973 | Iowa State (OC) |
| 1974 | Villanova |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1983–1991 | Florida (associate AD) |
| 1991–1994 | UNLV |
| 1996–1997 | Western Michigan |
| 1997–2014 | Virginia Tech |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 3–5 |
Career edit
A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Weaver played college football at Pennsylvania State University for Rip Engle and Joe Paterno and was later an assistant coach under Paterno, from 1967 to 1972. After a spending 1973 as the offensive coordinator at Iowa State University, Weaver was hired as the head football coach at Villanova University, succeeding Lou Ferry, who stayed with a team as defensive line coach.[1] Weaver led Villanova to a record of 3–5 before he was hired in early November 1974, after the disclosure of his intentions to quit at the end of the season and take an administrative position at Clarion State College. Ferry assumed the role of interim head coach for the last three games of the season.[2]
In 1983, Weaver was hired by the University of Florida athletics department in the wake of that school's NCAA sanctions. From there, he moved on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) to become the director of athletics in 1991. Weaver resigned in 1994 in protest over the hiring of Tim Grgurich, who had been an assistant under the controversial Jerry Tarkanian, to be the school's new men's basketball coach.[3]
Following a short stay as Western Michigan University's director of athletics, Weaver was hired by Virginia Tech to replace the departing Dave Braine. Under Weaver, Virginia Tech's athletics programs moved from the Atlantic 10 Conference to the Big East Conference and then to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Lane Stadium was expanded twice, in 2002 and 2005. His accomplishments on behalf of the university led to his posthumous enshrinement into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
Weaver retiring due to health concerns in 2014 and was succeeded by Whit Babcock.
Death edit
Weaver died on July 2, 2015, at the age of 70.[4] He had Parkinson's disease.[5]
Head coaching record edit
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villanova Wildcats (Independent) (1974) | |||||||||
| 1974 | Villanova | 3–5[n 1] | |||||||
| Villanova: | 3–5 | ||||||||
| Total: | 3–5 | ||||||||
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ "Jim Weaver Villanova Coach". Lebanon Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. United Press International. December 14, 1973. p. 22. Retrieved November 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Villanova Coach Out In Conflict". The Evening Sun. Hanover, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. November 6, 1974. p. 8. Retrieved November 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Jensen, Mike (October 20, 1994). "Athletic Director At Unlv Resigns Amid Coach Talks Former Assistant Tim Grgurich Was Hired As Coach. Then He Wasn't - For The Time Being, At Least". Philly.com.
- ^ . hokiesports.com. July 2, 2015. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
- ^ Bitter, Andy (July 2, 2015). "Former Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver dies after battling Parkinson's disease". The Roanoke Times.