STrib: Complaints against Teague date back to 2012; U/VCU paid $300,000 to settle

[BleedGopher]

per the STrib:

Two complaints accusing former University of Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague of gender discrimination against co-workers resulted in $300,000 in settlements dating back to 2012, records obtained by the Star Tribune show.

The complaints were filed by employees at the University of Minnesota and at Virginia Commonwealth University, where Teague worked before being recruited by the U.

In March 2013, Regina Sullivan, a senior associate athletic director for the University of Minnesota, filed a federal complaint against the U after she was fired from the school in October 2012. Teague, she said, “expected a woman in my position to take a passive role and defer to men’s opinions” on issues pertaining to Title IX, the law that bans sex discrimination in any federally funded school.

In her complaint, Sullivan said Teague fired her because she questioned his “commitment to Title IX.” Records show the U settled with Sullivan in April 2014 for $175,000.

http://www.startribune.com/discrimi...innesota-and-virginia-commonwealth/321342421/

Go Gophers!!

 

[Golden Goldy]

Dear Mr. Teague,

We'd like that money back.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Reading the title, I expected this to be much worse.

I bet somehow people will try and relate this to the harassment. Only thing this tells us is whoever was responsible for vetting him did a lousy job and ended up costing us $175,000.

 

[BroncoRedux]

Reading the title, I expected this to be much worse.

I bet somehow people will try and relate this to the harassment. Only thing this tells us is whoever was responsible for vetting him did a lousy job and ended up costing us $175,000.

That would be Kaler. Oops.

 

[JPIIGopher]

Seems like pretty standard fare in the AD world of college sports. I expected this to be related to harassment

 

[GopherLady]

Seems like pretty standard fare in the AD world of college sports. I expected this to be related to harassment

I agree, the title is a bit misleading. Maturi bundled far larger amounts of money, but he wasn't a perv so didn't make as big of news. All of these lawsuits and settlements are so typical, it's tough to read much into it. Didn't Maturi pay out $1.25 to Jimmy Williams?

 

[Halsey Hall]

Dear Mr. Teague,

We'd like that money back.

We'd also like our good name back

 

[UpnorthGo4]

I agree, the title is a bit misleading. Maturi bundled far larger amounts of money, but he wasn't a perv so didn't make as big of news. All of these lawsuits and settlements are so typical, it's tough to read much into it. Didn't Maturi pay out $1.25 to Jimmy Williams?

Wow. You are wrong on at least two counts, GopherLady. First, what happened in the Jimmy Williams case in no way relates to Teague firing a subordinate who disagreed with him about his commitment to Title IX and Maturi refusing to allow Tubby to hire a coach with a history of recruiting violations. Second, the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned William's $1 million dollar damage award. Williams didn't get a cent.

Teague's firing of Regina Sullivan should have raised red flags at the U about Teague as a manager and a human being. We now know that it didn't happen. I have very little doubt that we will be finding out much more about transgressions by Teague that were known and ignored by his superiors at the U.

 

[GopherLady]

Wow. You are wrong on at least two counts, GopherLady. First, what happened in the Jimmy Williams case in no way relates to Teague firing a subordinate who disagreed with him about his commitment to Title IX and Maturi refusing to allow Tubby to hire a coach with a history of recruiting violations. Second, the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned William's $1 million dollar damage award. Williams didn't get a cent.

Teague's firing of Regina Sullivan should have raised red flags at the U about Teague as a manager and a human being. We now know that it didn't happen. I have very little doubt that we will be finding out much more about transgressions by Teague that were known and ignored by his superiors at the U.

I was speaking more of paying out to people, not the reasoning for it. Perhaps that was a poor analogy. I honestly did forget they didn't pay Jimmy Williams. Thank you for the correction.

For the record, and I tweeted it as well, I thought very highly of Regina and always wondered what happened to her. Now we know.

We agree 100% on your last statement, I think a lot will be coming out as well.

 

[Rouser]

Seems like pretty standard fare in the AD world of college sports. I expected this to be related to harassment

Agreed. Teague is a tool no doubt but this stuff is just reporters filling columns. That said, radio heads will use it to pile on, so damage will be done. Standard stuff in big time departments.. not saying good, but standard. Also, in corporate america this stuff is common as well (buyouts, settlements, etc).

None of it takes away from fact Teague is a class A tool as its apparent he was power hungry and just a slob of a man. He will not find work easily after this fallout. Hopefully the U can pick up the pieces.. the only good that can come of this is sometimes an overcorrection hire is made post a scandal (Monson) and thats not a bad thing IMO. There is enough talent (Kill, Goetz, etc) that fundraising can keep momentum regardless of the next hire, so might as well hire a Maturi type with a little more polish for big times sports.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

STrib: Complaints against Teague date back to 2012; U/VCU paid $300,000 to se...

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That would be Kaler. Oops.

I disagree. I don't think the president of the U is running background checks and scouring public records. Ultimately it falls on him as Kaler is his superior, but someone else almost certainly had the task of making sure he was clean.

But then again, maybe Kaler did know about his past and was convinced it wouldn't happen again. In hindsight, that was a bad judgment. The second occurrence should have raised red flags. Maybe it did. Maybe it didn't. We don't know yet.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Here's the thing about paying out settlements to settle complaints - you don't pay out settlements if you think a complaint is baseless. In two occasions (that we know of), VCU and the U of M paid out money to settle complaints that were made because of Teague's treatment of female coaches or employees, and one of those complaints was made relative to Title IX concerns. By themselves, neither incident may be a "smoking gun," but taken as part of the whole picture, it raises more red flags about Teague as a person and as an administrator.

 

[Ole]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Here's the thing about paying out settlements to settle complaints - you don't pay out settlements if you think a complaint is baseless. In two occasions (that we know of), VCU and the U of M paid out money to settle complaints that were made because of Teague's treatment of female coaches or employees, and one of those complaints was made relative to Title IX concerns. By themselves, neither incident may be a "smoking gun," but taken as part of the whole picture, it raises more red flags about Teague as a person and as an administrator.

The culture in the AD needed to change. Maturi enabled alot of bad attitudes and it was hurting the U.
This headline and story is completely unrelated to Teague's disgusting sexual harassment.

 

[Winasota Gopher]

Wow. You are wrong on at least two counts, GopherLady. First, what happened in the Jimmy Williams case in no way relates to Teague firing a subordinate who disagreed with him about his commitment to Title IX and Maturi refusing to allow Tubby to hire a coach with a history of recruiting violations. Second, the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned William's $1 million dollar damage award. Williams didn't get a cent.

Teague's firing of Regina Sullivan should have raised red flags at the U about Teague as a manager and a human being. We now know that it didn't happen. I have very little doubt that we will be finding out much more about transgressions by Teague that were known and ignored by his superiors at the U.

Hindsight's 20/20 in these things. At the time the departure of Sullivan could have been shrouded in some sort of half truth that may or may not have covered up Teagues proported baiases. There is a saying there are 2 sides to every story, when it comes to employment and terminating said employment, theres usually 2-3x more than 2 sides. Not exonerating Teague in any way, just saying, when it comes to employment its never cut and dry and it's hard to say that one firing would be a "red flag" the U missed.

 

[GopherinFlorida]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Here's the thing about paying out settlements to settle complaints - you don't pay out settlements if you think a complaint is baseless. In two occasions (that we know of), VCU and the U of M paid out money to settle complaints that were made because of Teague's treatment of female coaches or employees, and one of those complaints was made relative to Title IX concerns. By themselves, neither incident may be a "smoking gun," but taken as part of the whole picture, it raises more red flags about Teague as a person and as an administrator.

Maybe true or partly true...but federal involvement with Title IX creates an easy environment for lawsuits over perceived slights and personal agendas...see current multi-million dollar investigation because of complaint from female track athlete.

 

[STPGopher]

I agree, the title is a bit misleading. Maturi bundled far larger amounts of money, but he wasn't a perv so didn't make as big of news. All of these lawsuits and settlements are so typical, it's tough to read much into it. Didn't Maturi pay out $1.25 to Jimmy Williams?

$1.25? I paid more than that on a cup of coffee.... Sorry, couldn't resist. It is sad that I felt relieved to read what I just read. Still not good, but better than what I thought the story was going to be about. Old news.

 

[AO54]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Here's the thing about paying out settlements to settle complaints - you don't pay out settlements if you think a complaint is baseless.

Paying out settlements for ridiculous complaints happens ALL the time. Even if you're proved right in the end, the attorney fees and media coverage often make the fight not worth it when the complainer will accept a relatively small settlement.

 

[UpnorthGo4]

$1.25? I paid more than that on a cup of coffee.... Sorry, couldn't resist. It is said that I felt relieved to read what I just read. Still not good, but better than what I thought the story was going to be about. Old news.

The story is about a possible pattern of behavior by Teague and the Athletics Department ignoring Title IX in their decision making process. It is not old news at all. It is brand new and the U is now being investigated by the feds for it. It is doubtful that Teague fired his subordinate because she only complained about one of his actions at the U. Needless to say, as an insider she will be an important witness in the case. I would be surprised if the complaints are confined to just one or two incidents. Federal agencies turn over every rock during their investigations.

 

[Ole]

Paying out settlements for ridiculous complaints happens ALL the time. Even if you're proved right in the end, the attorney fees and media coverage often make the fight not worth it when the complainer will accept a relatively small settlement.

Anyone know what the women's golf coach was paid when Maturi allowed her to be squeezed out? Still pending?
The point is Teague is a creep, but these things happen all the time. The two subjects are not related.

 

[UpnorthGo4]

Anyone know what the women's golf coach was paid when Maturi allowed her to be squeezed out? Still pending?
The point is Teague is a creep, but these things happen all the time. The two subjects are not related.

The federal Office of Civil Rights are investigating the U's compliance with Title IX. They are not just investigating what Teague has done. The whole golf mess will be another part of the investigation. There is absolutely zero reason for anyone to be confident about the final outcome of the investigation. The U's history tells us this.

 

[Ole]

The federal Office of Civil Rights are investigating the U's compliance with Title IX. They are not just investigating Teague. The whole golf mess will be another part of the investigation. There is absolutely zero reason for anyone to be confident of the final outcome of the investigation.

Honest question. How do you hope that investigation turns out?
You've been on here obsessing over it since it began.
Teague sexually harassing women is unacceptable, if there are more women out there I hope they find them and leave no stone unturned.
BUT

That situation and Teague's icky behavior has nothing to do with title IX.
I remain convinced that the U of MN is better on women's sports opportunities and equality than most division I programs in the country, it's simply a part of what has been built here from women's hockey to a strong women's sports community here in the TC.
I do however feel that Teague likely challenged people who felt very entitled to the same priorities Maturi gave them which were unsustainable in a modern big time AD. That needed to happen, and whether Teague handled it well or not really doesn't matter.
The investigation will probably find some stuff, but I can't see how a department that made non revenue sports a top priority for a decade under Maturi didn't offer a good title IX environment.

 

[Maximus]

Teague's firing of Regina Sullivan should have raised red flags at the U about Teague as a manager and a human being. We now know that it didn't happen.

Red flag? The woman was hired by Chris Voelz and was second in command to Joel Maturi. There was no way she was going to maintain that position with the people Teague was going to bring in.

There were a lot of Maturi hires let go when Teague was hired. At the time many people here applauded the house cleaning.

 

[harley_gopher]

I'm curious to know if the POS Teague has a wife and family...

 

[Gopher07]

I'm curious to know if the POS Teague has a wife and family...

I think he's single.

 

[GopherLady]

$1.25? I paid more than that on a cup of coffee.... Sorry, couldn't resist. It is said that I felt relieved to read what I just read. Still not good, but better than what I thought the story was going to be about. Old news.

This is why you shouldn't be so sleepy and posting! I honestly refreshed the board for 20 minutes last night, wondering why replies weren't showing...then I realized I was on the bball board. I got some sleep finally, though. (noted, I hadn't even had a drink, sleepy posting is worse)!

I think he's single.

He is.

 

[STPGopher]

The story is about a possible pattern of behavior by Teague and the Athletics Department ignoring Title IX in their decision making process. It is not old news at all. It is brand new and the U is now being investigated by the feds for it. It is doubtful that Teague fired his subordinate because she only complained about one of his actions at the U. Needless to say, as an insider she will be an important witness in the case. I would be surprised if the complaints are confined to just one or two incidents. Federal agencies turn over every rock during their investigations.

Clarification, It is something that many of us already knew was being investigated.

 

[STPGopher]

This is why you shouldn't be so sleepy and posting! I honestly refreshed the board for 20 minutes last night, wondering why replies weren't showing...then I realized I was on the bball board. I got some sleep finally, though. (noted, I hadn't even had a drink, sleepy posting is worse)!

I think I always post sleepy...

No worries GopherLady! You are always a top notch rep of the U of M!

 

[the_chucker]

I can't believe the lackadaisical attitude from some of the posts on this thread---no big deal???---seriously, shows a fuking pattern to me

 

[MaxyJR1]

https://twitter.com/JayKollsKSTP/status/631187861400752128

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MrC]

Separation agreements are pretty commonplace. However, unlike in a corporation, when a state, a city, or a public university is involved, the separation agreements become public record.

Clearly, Teague has an unacceptable and downright creepy history of behavior towards women he finds attractive. We don't know if that extends to his behavior towards to women in general. We don't know if these settlements would support the idea that he has a problem with women in general.

The fact that Beth Goetz's appears to have been a fully empowered leader on his team gives me some hope that the settlement agreements are not indicative of a generally hostile environment towards women.