Minnesota AD Norwood Teague steps down after sending 'inappropriate texts'

Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague has resigned following reports of two incidents of sexual harassment.

Teague said Friday morning he intends to seek help for "alcohol use" as well as reevaluating both his life and career.

The resignation follows inappropriate text messages he sent after drinking, Teague said in a statement.

"I behaved badly towards nice people and sent truly inappropriate texts," Teague said. "I'm embarrassed and I apologize to everyone involved."

The university released documents later Friday that included the text messages and testimonies from the women involved.

One woman said she gave Teague her number at a group gathering because she wanted to set him up with a friend.

"During dinner, he started to text me. It was initially a fun, back-and-forth teasing which was slightly flirtatious but felt harmless," the woman said. "Then his texting started to cross the line as he suggested skinny dipping … his attraction to me, etc.

"At this point, I responded, 'No,' and ‘Stop.' He continued to text."

Later when she moved to a bar, Teague followed her and continued to text inappropriate messages.

"He told me to check them, and I said, 'No.' He continued to tell me to check my phone, but I wouldn't," she said. "He started to pinch my buttocks repeatedly as well as my waist. I tried to ignore him by turning away from him. He continued saying things to me but I ignored him. I felt trapped and frozen."

Teague joined the Gophers in 2012 after six years at VCU.

"Norwood's resignation follows the report of two recent incidents of sexual harassment of two non-student University employees," University President Eric Kaler said in a statement.