Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver resigning amid Parkinson’s battle

Virginia Tech athletics director Jim Weaver is resigning from his position because of health issues, according to reports from Andy Bitter of the Virginian-Pilot and David Teel of the Daily Press. Weaver, who served as AD for more than 16 years, has been fighting Parkinson’s disease since being diagnosed in 2004.

He had planned to serve out the end of his contract, which ran through Dec. 31, 2015, but admitted to Teel that he is no longer capable of effectively doing his job. Weaver, who also needs hip replacement surgery, will step down next month; associate AD Sharon McCloskey will serve as the interim AD.

“You know the expression ‘lead, follow or get out of the way.’ Well, I’m stepping aside,” Weaver said.

During his time in Blacksburg, Weaver oversaw the unprecedented success of the football program, guiding the school out of the Big East and into the ACC along the way. In 2009, the National Football Foundation award him its John Toner Award, which goes to the nation’s most outstanding athletic director each year.

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