Former Virginia Tech Hokies athletic director Jim Weaver passed away Thursday at the age of 70. Weaver led the Virginia Tech athletic department for more than 16 years (1997-2013). He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2014, and retired at the end of 2013.
I was critical and did not agree with many of Weaver's policies and decisions: the elimination of "Stick It In", opt-out of a Thursday night home football game in 2013, termination of Seth Greenberg (execution of, not decision to) and favor of early kickoff times to name a few.
However, when you look a Weaver's overall body of work while at Tech, his tenure was overwhelmingly successful. David Teel wrote a touching tribute of Weaver, and he summarized Weaver's legacy perfectly.
As athletic director from 1997-2013, Weaver presided over the most successful era in Hokies history. His department thrived competitively, academically and fiscally, transitioned from the Atlantic 10 to the Big East to the ACC, and enhanced facilities for all programs.
At the end of the day you can argue with Weaver's methods, but not his results. Virginia Tech athletics was at its best on Weaver's watch.
For my money, his greatest accomplishment as Tech's AD was to secure the Hokies a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference. There's an alternate universe in which Weaver didn't make the moves to guide Tech to the ACC. In that same bleak timeline, the recent era of conference turmoil, expansion and contraction, left the Hokies as a college football afterthought. Instead, Hokie Nation doesn't have to share the same grim outlook as the UCONN, Cincinnati, Boise State, South Florida, etc... faithful.
I didn't know Jim Weaver personally or professionally (TKP applied for press credentials well after Whit Babcock was hired), but based on a small sample of those who did, it's my loss.
Va Tech has lost a Legend. Former AD Jim Weaver passed away. Incredible man who did amazing things here. RIP JW. Job well done.— Mike Burnop (@MikeBurnopVT) July 2, 2015
Sad to learn of the passing of Jim Weaver. My prayers are w/his family & Hokie Nation as we CELEBRATE your life & what you did for us! #RIP— Willie Pile (@ill_will_35) July 2, 2015
Sad day for the Hokie Family. Could always count on Jim Weaver to greet me with a "HOWS IT GOING 81" @hokiesports He's truly in Hokie Heaven— Justin Harper (@Justin_Harpo) July 2, 2015
Jim Weaver always made time to speak to me and my family every time I was at VT. #HokieForLife.— Dwight Vick (@vick757) July 2, 2015
Greatness is the ability to turn ordinary into EXTRAORDINARY! That is the legacy of Jim Weaver! Thanks for taking a chance on a HS coach.— Kevin Dresser (@hokieDream) July 2, 2015
Sad of the passing of Jim Weaver, great man & great leader of our Hokie athletics dept, he took us to new heights with a greater vision!— Scot Thomas (@VTSBCoach) July 3, 2015
Rest In Paradise Jim Weaver
#ForeverAHokie— Tyrod Taylor (@TyrodTaylor) July 2, 2015
Thank you for being a great Hokie, Jim Weaver.
Comments
Thank you Mr. Weaver for all your contributions in building a stronger foundation for the great Hokie Nation. Rest in peace good man.
A man that truly embodied what it means to be a Hokie, by serving his community and Hokie Nation well....in addition to tipping one back for all the soldiers and those who have served our country (past, present, and future), tip one back for Mr. Weaver as well this Independence Day Weekend.
"For my money, his greatest accomplishment as Tech's AD was to secure the Hokies a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference."
This is absolutely true.
It was in no way guaranteed that VT would get into the ACC at that time, and since entry VT has won 19 ACC championships. Weaver worked those politics the way they needed to be worked.
I tip my hat to him, and remember him fondly.
"For my money, his greatest accomplishment as Tech's AD was to secure the Hokies a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference"
Not to diminish his accomplishments, and with all due respect, this is incorrect. I was in the VT Athletics suite area for a mtg the day the invite came, popped in to Jims office and asked his secretary, who I knew, what the heck is going on and the response was "if you know let us know because we have no idea what's going on".
Acc invite was WAY over Jims head.
So the whole thing only took one phone call and took only a day?
Time and place, dude. Time and place.
The way that I heard it went down (and this may not be accurate) was the governor of Virginia placed a phone call to the President of UVA and informed him he needed to do whatever possible to include Va. Tech in the expansion of the ACC. The UVA President then informed John Swofford that UVA would not support any expansion that did not include Va. Tech. So I think our former governor had a bigger say as far as the invite.
Correct
I don't doubt that Mark Warner and John Casteen had a lot to do with it, but that doesn't diminish the fact that Virginia Tech was well positioned both financially and in regards to facilities and athletic programs to get into the ACC. Weaver was athletic director during the most successful years of VT athletics. He was the athletic director when Virginia Tech joined the Big East as a full member, when Beamer considered leaving for UNC and decided not to, and when Virginia Tech joined the ACC.
The facilities look great, some great coaches were hired/retained, the programs are in good financial shape, and Virginia Tech has done well in the ACC. Certainly there were things people disagreed with, myself included, but this isn't the right time or thread for that.
He seems to fall in that group where early on things are on cloud nine. Then at the end of that success comes an unpopular lull. One comes to mind - Bobby Bowden. In certain scenarios, I could see CFB go the same route although with Whitt on board, I doubt it. Weaver certainly was on a down trend the last several years. Don't know if it all occurred after the diagnosis or not. For sure, his watch did bring national attention to the school & our athletics. I'm like Joe - I disagreed with a whole lot but only at the end. RIP JW!!!!!
he was the AD during my time at VT; after graduation, his was a familiar voice i got accustomed to when interviewed by Roth and Burnop regularly on Tech Talk Live.
RIP my good sir and thank you for the VT sports memories that i'll cherish forever...
He did some really great things for this school and for that I am very thankful for his service. However, I felt that he was directly responsible for the complete melt down of our basketball program and he allowed the football program to slip over the last few years. I do not know if it was his diminishing health was behind some of the poor decisions but it seemed like it became a good old boy club where nobody was held responsible (except Bud Foster and his defense). But RIP Mr. Weaver.
All the ECU, white pants, and 12:00 pm jokes aside it was a sad week for the Hokie Nation with the passing of Mr. Weaver. He was very influential on a lot of things we take for granted today the biggest being like Joe mentioned above getting us into the ACC. RIP Jim Weaver and thanks for everything you did for Virginia Tech.
The best thing Weaver did was putting the athletic program in one of the best financial situations in the country. The indoor facility and Buzz Williams don't happen without Jim Weaver.
Rest In Peace Mr. Weaver and a prayer for your loved ones who must miss you so. A great big "Thank You" from Hokie Nation and a hope that where ever you are, may you always have clear skies, a fair wind and a star to guide you.
If only there was an indoor practice facility that needed to be named, hmmm.....
The Jim Weaver "Inside, It's Always Noon" Memorial Practice Facility
Nothing better prepared me for work than having to make 8 AM call times. Thanks Mr. Weaver