Kansas Relays director resigns after 6 years

By By CJ Moore

Friday, August 25, 2006

Tim Weaver resigned from his position as Kansas Relays meet director Thursday to take a position with a Commercial Real Estate company in Kansas City, Mo.

Weaver had been the Relays director since 2000 and had been with Kansas track and field since 1995. His main motivation to move on was the long hours interfering with the time he spent with his family.

“Over the summer it just became more and more clear that to abuse the relays metaphor, I’ve got a tired set of legs here and it’s a good time to hand it off to somebody new,” Weaver said.

Weaver’s replacement has not been named yet. Weaver said the Athletics Department had a job description prepared and would begin the search immediately. Weaver will assist athletics director Lew Perkins in the search for the new director.

“Lew’s made it very clear he wants the absolute best person available,” Weaver said. “The relays have been a big success under Lew’s tenure here by no accident. He has gotten behind this event unlike any other.”

Over the summer it just became more and more clear that to abuse the relays metaphor, I’ve got a tired set of legs here and it’s a good time to hand it off to somebody new.

Tim Weaver, former Kansas Relays director

Weaver played a large role in bringing the Kansas Relays back to prominence over his tenure with the University of Kansas. He was the director when the Relays came back in 2000 after a two-year hiatus. In 2005, he was responsible for starting GOLDZONE, which brought professional track and field athletes like Maurice Green, Marion Jones and Justin Gatlin to Memorial Stadium.

The event provided record crowds the past two years, thanks to GOLDZONE; however, the Relays have been entangled in controversy after the 2006 event in April.

During a post-game party for the Relays at Abe & Jakes Landing, 8 E. Sixth St., a fight broke out that included several athletes from the Relays. Several weeks ago news broke that Gatlin tested positive for excess testosterone and using other steroids following his team’s win in the 4 x 100 meters relay at Memorial Stadium. Gatlin faces an eight-year ban from track and field because it was his second offense.

Weaver said both the incidents from the past year had nothing to do with him leaving his position with the Relays.

“This was a completely personal decision. I’ve always preached to my staff that we’ve got to focus on things that we can control,” Weaver said. “Those things that are out of our control have just really never been a factor for us.”

Weaver said he planned to continue to be involved with track and field with Olympic and US National teams and will continue with other consulting gigs away from the Kansas Relays.

“Despite me moving on and any of those other things, the meet is solid and it’s going to move on without a hitch,” Weaver said.

Kansan staff writer C.J. Moore can be contacted at cjmoore@kansan.com.

— Edited by Nicole Kelley

NEW: Gold Zone on the horizon

/news/2006/apr/21/new_goldzone_horizon/

Relays boast track stars

/news/2005/mar/31/sports_trackandfield_jones/

Gold Zone highlights Relays

/news/2005/apr/21/sports_track_relays_gold/

Event increases Relays’ turnout

/news/2005/apr/25/sports_colum_kealing/

Olympians draw larger Relays crowd

/news/2005/apr/20/sports_track_relays/

Relays bring buzz, bragging rights to KU

/news/2005/apr/19/sports_columns_weinstein/

Kansas Relays hopes to go down in ...

With strong match ups from the high school to the professional level, ...

/news/2006/apr/20/kr_preview/

Relays renaissance

/news/2005/apr/21/sports_track_relays_history/

Kansas Relays offer chance to look back

Will this year’s Relays give the participants the fond memories that remain ...

/news/2007/apr/19/anniversary/

Former director Rodney Jones formally resigns

Jones resigned from the Williams Education Fund as a new interim director ...

/news/2010/apr/21/former-director-rodney-jones-fomally-resigns/

Former director formally resigns

Rodney Jones is being replaced as director of the Williams Educational Fund.

/news/2010/apr/22/former-director-formally-resigns/

Penn, Drake Relays to divide track team

/news/2005/apr/29/sports_track_preview/

Meet depends on committee work

/news/2005/apr/21/sports_track_relays_committees/

Interim director for Athletics chosen

After Lew Perkins retirement announcement, Sean Lester was selected as interim director ...

/news/2010/sep/07/sean-lester/

Kansas Relays brings Olympic athletes to Lawrence

The 85th Annual Kansas Relays begins tomorrow in downtown Lawrence at 6 ...

/news/2012/apr/17/kansas-relays-brings-olympic-athletes-lawrence/

Athletes ready for the Kansas Relays

2010 event features Olympic medal-winners and other collegiate runners.

/news/2010/apr/14/athletes-ready-kansas-relays/

Dwyer: Three prospects for next AD

Applicants abound for the new AD but Gray-Little should look at these ...

/news/2010/sep/16/dwyer-three-prospects-next-ad/

Gruber to run at Relays

/news/2005/apr/20/sports_track_gruber/

Lew Perkins to retire in September 2011

Kansas athletics director Lew Perkins has announced his impending retirement, effective September ...

/news/2010/jun/10/report-lew-perkins-resign-end-2010-2011-school-yea/

Cunningham stays at Tulsa, will not become ...

After media speculation that Cunningham would replace Lew Perkins, Tulsa's president announced ...

/news/2010/dec/16/bubba-cunningham-stay-university-tulsa/

Mangino resigns, search for new coach to ...

Coaches David Beaty, Clint Bowen and Bill Miller would share interim head ...

/news/2009/dec/03/perkins-meeting-football-team/

Director of Multicultural Affairs resigns

Robert N. Page Jr. announced his resignation because of personal matters.

/news/2010/nov/03/director-multicultural-affairs-resigns/

Two more Kansas Athletics employees resign amidst ...

Brandon Simmons and Jason Jeffries resigned their positions, it was announced Friday.

/news/2010/apr/30/two-more-kansas-athletics-employees-resign-amidst-/

Associate athletics director resigns

Ben Kirtland is in the middle of an investigation regarding the illegal ...

/news/2010/apr/06/associate-athletics-director-resigns/

Two more ticket office employees resign amidst ...

Two more employees resign amidst ticket sales investigation

/news/2010/apr/30/two-more-ticket-office-employees-resign-amidst-sal/

Olympians to star on Saturday

/news/2005/apr/21/sports_track_relays_capsules/

Two more resign as ticket investigations continue

Amid persistent allegations of illegal men’s basketball tickets sales, Brandon Simmons and ...

/news/2010/may/03/two-more-resign-ticket-investigations-continue/

Editorial: Student voice needed in director search

A student should be included on committee charged with finding Perkins' replacement.

/news/2010/oct/01/editorial-student-voice-needed-director-search/

Mangino resigns from KU Athletics

Coach leaves after internal investigation.

/news/2009/dec/04/mangino-resigns-ku-athletics/

Roesler: Relaying a hidden campus gem

The Kansas Relays give students big bang for no bucks.

/news/2010/apr/13/roesler-relaying-hidden-campus-gem/

Perkins fined $4,000 by ethics commission

Lew Perkins was fined for accepting free exercise equipment and physical therapy ...

/news/2011/jan/25/perkins-fined-4000-ethics-commission/

Track team competes around the country

Team members head to Philadelphia, Iowa and Nebraska, many looking to regionally ...

/news/2009/apr/24/track_team/

Department of chemistry offers unique undergraduate opportunities

The summer program gives students exclusive research experience and the ability to ...

/news/2008/jun/02/department_chemistry_offers_unique_undergraduates_/

Behind the scenes remains official business

/news/2005/apr/19/sports_trackandfield_beene/

Brother of MVP helping football team go ...

Chris Howard is playing an important role in the Kansas athletics department

/news/2008/oct/15/howard/

Mangino, Perkins satisfied with settlement

Details from the agreement ending Mangino’s employment have not been disclosed.

/news/2009/dec/04/mangino-perkins-satisfied-settlement/

Speculation surrounds search for new AD

A plane coming from Tulsa to Lawrence this afternoon was suspected of ...

/news/2010/dec/02/speculation-surrounds-search-new-ad/

Editorial: Olin right pick for security position

Ron Olin is the right choice for a new position at KU ...

/news/2010/sep/10/editorial-olin-right-pick-security-position/

Perkins puts KU Athletics employee on leave

Rodney Jones oversaw fundraising efforts and relations between Kansas Athletics and donors.