James C. Weaver (March 5, 1945 – July 2, 2015) was an American college football player, coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Villanova University for the first eight games of the 1974 season, finishing with a record of 3–5. Weaver also served as the athletic director at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from 1991 to 1994, Western Michigan University from 1996 to 1997, and Virginia Tech from 1997 to 2014.
 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 5, 1945 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 2015 (aged 70) Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1964–1966 | Penn State |
| Position(s) | Center, linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1967–1972 | Penn State (assistant) |
| 1973 | Iowa State (OC) |
| 1974 | Villanova |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1983–1991 | Florida (associate AD) |
| 1991–1994 | UNLV |
| 1996–1997 | Western Michigan |
| 1997–2014 | Virginia Tech |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 3–5 |
Career
editA native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Weaver played college football at Pennsylvania State University under Rip Engle and Joe Paterno. After his playing career, he served as assistant coach under Paterno, from 1967 to 1972. In 1973, Weaver became the offensive coordinator at Iowa State University, before being hired as the head football coach at Villanova University, succeeding Lou Ferry, who remained with team as the defensive line coach.[1] Weaver led Villanova to a record of 3–5 before he was hired in early November 1974, after the disclosure of his intentions to quit at the end of the season and take an administrative position at Clarion State College. Ferry assumed the role of interim head coach for the last three games of the season.[2]
In 1983, Weaver was hired by the University of Florida athletics department in the wake of that school's NCAA sanctions. He later moved to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he became the director of athletics in 1991. In 1994, Weaver resigned his position in protest over the hiring of Tim Grgurich as the new men's basketball coach.[3] Tim Grgurich had been an assistant under the controversial Jerry Tarkanian.
Following a brief tenure as Western Michigan University's director of athletics, Weaver was hired by Virginia Tech to replace the departing Dave Braine. Under Weaver, Virginia Tech's athletic programs moved from the Atlantic 10 Conference to the Big East Conference and eventually to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Weaver also oversaw two major expansions of Lane Stadium in 2002 and 2005. His accomplishments on behalf of the university led to his posthumous enshrinement into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
Weaver retired due to health concerns in 2014 and was succeeded by Whit Babcock.
Death
editWeaver passed away on July 2, 2015, at the age of 70[4] after a battle with Parkinson's disease.[5]
Head coaching record
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villanova Wildcats (Independent) (1974) | |||||||||
| 1974 | Villanova | 3–5[n 1] | |||||||
| Villanova: | 3–5 | ||||||||
| Total: | 3–5 | ||||||||
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Jim Weaver Villanova Coach". Lebanon Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. United Press International. December 14, 1973. p. 22. Retrieved November 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com
.
- ^ "Villanova Coach Out In Conflict". The Evening Sun. Hanover, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. November 6, 1974. p. 8. Retrieved November 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Jensen, Mike (October 20, 1994). "Athletic Director At Unlv Resigns Amid Coach Talks Former Assistant Tim Grgurich Was Hired As Coach. Then He Wasn't - For The Time Being, At Least". Philly.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015.
- ^ "Former Tech AD Jim Weaver passes away". hokiesports.com. July 2, 2015. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
- ^ Bitter, Andy (July 2, 2015). "Former Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver dies after battling Parkinson's disease". The Roanoke Times.
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