Norwood Teague

Norwood Teague - Director of Athletics

Norwood T. Teague became the Director of Athletics at Virginia Commonwealth University on July 1, 2006. Since that time, the department has experienced tremendous success, garnering pride and national visibility for Rams Athletics.

Success has come in competition, development, and in the classroom. During the 2008 spring semester, 55 percent of the Rams’ student-athletes had a grade point average of 3.0 or better. The numbers on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll continue to grow as well.

The Rams’ success in men’s basketball since Teague took the reins at VCU has been noteworthy. The team won the 2007 Colonial Athletic Association championship and beat Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The 2007-08 team finished first in the CAA’s regular season standings and again qualified for postseason play. In the spring of 2008, Teague worked out a six-year extension on the contract of men’s basketball head coach Anthony Grant.

The VCU women’s basketball team set a school record with 26 victories in 2007-08, made the CAA tournament championship game for the first time in its history and qualified for postseason play. During that same academic year, veteran tennis coach Paul Kostin recorded his 800th career victory and both his men’s and women’s teams qualified for the NCAA tournament. The men’s team won the 2008 CAA championship. In addition, head golf coach Matt Ball was named the CAA coach of the year in 2008.

VCU’s baseball team won the 2007 CAA championship to earn an NCAA tournament spot. The Rams’ women’s soccer team made the 2007 CAA final under the direction of co-head coaches Tim Sahaydak and Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak – Teague’s first head coaching hires. Six men’s track athletes have made NCAA regional appearances during Teague’s tenure.

Under Teague’s leadership, the Rams have enjoyed a 48 percent increase in fundraising. Teague consolidated VCU Athletics’ fundraising efforts by combining the Pride Fund and the Rams Club into the new Ram Athletic Fund. This has streamlined the fundraising operation for better efficiency and success.

Teague launched a Basketball Enhancement Fund project in 2007. This first phase included the renovation of the men’s and women’s basketball corridor as well as significant upgrades to the basketball lounge, locker room and hallway areas, and a state of the art video system. The project also included a renovation of the Franklin Street Gym. Further upgrades to the Rams’ facilities are in the works, as phase two of this project began in Spring 2008.

Teague currently serves as a member of the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers.

Teague is a native of Raleigh, N.C. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1988 with a degree in Political Science. In 1992, Teague earned a Master’s degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University.

Teague came to VCU from his alma mater, University of North Carolina, where he worked from 2001-2006 as the Tar Heels’ Associate Athletic Director for Marketing. In that position, he negotiated numerous partnership and rights agreements. Among them was an 8-year, $20-million contract with Learfield Sports and a first ever on-premises signage partnership with Wachovia in the Dean E. Smith Center. This was an $18 million deal spanning eight years.

From 1999-2001, Teague served as general manager of the Sun Devil Sports Network at Arizona State. While there, he increased sales and negotiated several multi-year television contracts. Teague oversaw radio, television, Internet and signage operations.

During 1998-99, Teague headed up new programs for Vilcom Sports and The Tar Heel Sports Network at the University of North Carolina.

At the University of Virginia Athletic Department from 1993-98, Teague worked first in the sports marketing office, and then served as the Director of Operations for the Cavaliers’ men’s basketball program under Jeff Jones.

“Norwood’s first two years directing the Department of Athletics have been exciting and productive,” said VCU President Dr. Eugene P. Trani. “I’m confident the department is in excellent hands and I look forward to watching its continued growth.”

UNC basketball coach Roy Williams said, “Norwood will be great for VCU because of his enthusiasm and work ethic. He has an incredibly bright future. I look forward to seeing the things he will accomplish at VCU.”

Swaders Sports Park

Glenn and Tammy

There is nothing quite like a free T-shirt, especially if they are hurled into the stands after a rim-shaking Larry Sanders’ dunk. If you’ve been lucky enough to catch one of these flying treasures, you have Glenn and Tammy Swader to thank. The Swader’s have been part of the VCU family for several years now and are often seen cheering on the Rams from their Section 6 seats. It’s hard not to catch them smiling as they watch kids’ faces light up at the thought of winning one of their coveted birthday party package. Glenn and Tammy own and operate the 31-acre Swaders Sports Park located in neighboring Prince George, Va. VCU Athletics recently caught up with Glenn to get his thoughts on the Ram Athletic Fund:

VCU Athletics: So, what is Swaders Sports Park?

Swader: It opened in April 2006, with a new indoor expansion that opened August 2008. We have two go-kart tracks, 36 holes of miniature golf, a nine position batting cage, and one of the Top 100 rated driving ranges in America. Indoors, we have a two-story Lasertag arena, an arcade with about 80 games in it, four arcade style bowling lanes, a KidZone (jungle gym) that can hold 100 kids at a time, three birthday party rooms, a banquet area and executive conference center upstairs. It’s very much a family business, with my wife Tammy and my brothers, Ken and Greg, working on the management team. Our Corporate and Group Sales Manager, JoAnna Korkos, is a VCU alumnus, and we have employed several VCU students throughout the years.

VCU Athletics: Why do you donate to the Ram Athletic Fund?

Swader: It is a natural extension of our marketing efforts. As a family entertainment center with sports related activities, it fits nicely into our overall theme. I didn’t attend college myself, and had been exposed to the VCU Rams through several lifelong friends. I caught the fever about three years ago, and have been participating more and more ever since. It’s great to see the kids get excited when the announcer says it’s time to give away the Swaders Sports Park Birthday Package. And being the sponsor of the “Dunk T-Shirts” this year is really special. The positive feedback and the exposure we get in such a terrific venue is extremely worthwhile.

VCU Athletics: What is your favorite VCU Athletics memory?

Swader: There isn’t one particular memory, it’s a collection of the whole experience over the last several years. From watching Coach Grant and how he handled himself as a leader, to enjoying the antics of Eric Maynor and seeing him go on to the Utah Jazz, seeing the development of players like Larry Sanders and Joey Rodriguez, and having been here as Coach Smart takes his place in the VCU experience. All of that comes together as some of my favorites memories. On a more personal level, I really enjoy the camaraderie with Gene & Peggy [Rosen] and some of the other people that I have met and come to know as a Battering Ram. And perhaps most importantly, as a father with an autistic son, it affords me the opportunity to share some very important personal time with Jarrett. Even being able to listen to the post game show on the radio on the way home after the game is great. We can remember some of the plays in the game and talk about them and it’s almost as if everything is OK just at that moment.

VCU Athletics: Who is your favorite VCU basketball player?

Swader: I can’t pick just one player. They all bring something special to the experience. Larry Sanders is great to watch! Joey Rodriguez is exciting too. Then Ed Nixon and [Bradford] Burgess and TJ Gwynn come in and everything goes crazy. It was really something to see [Terrance]Saintill get back on the court last week. There isn’t a favorite player, it’s the whole team and their “Havoc” style of play. The fans, the excitement and the energy level in the Siegel Center are awesome! Being a lifelong Duke fan it’s great to see VCU’s level of student enthusiasm. I knew I finally bled Black & Gold when I was pulling for VCU to beat Duke in the NCAA tournament two years ago.

VCU Athletics: Why should others donate to the Ram Athletic Fund?

Swader: VCU in general, and the athletic fund in particular, seem to be focused on giving back to the community in creative ways. They have a wonderful sense of “corporate responsibility” and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that is good for the entire region. In most organizations the top level staff set the tone. Norwood Teague and his staff make it very easy to decide to donate. It is very fulfilling to be a part of that family.