Dec. 11, 2007

Release in PDF Format
UW President Emmert on Turner's resignation

SEATTLE - University of Washington Athletic Director Todd Turner announced his resignation today, effective January 31, 2008.

In a statement issued today, Turner said, "When I was hired in 2004, the President's primary charge to me was to create a culture of integrity in athletics and to reconnect the athletics program to the mainstream mission of the University. This is something the staff in athletics and I have worked at every day. I do believe we have made great progress."

UW President Mark A. Emmert credited Turner, 56, with turning around an athletic department that had been raked by a series of problems and controversies.

"When Todd was appointed," said Emmert, "we needed a strong presence to restore integrity and confidence to the department and to bring to it a new level of management expertise. In his time here, Todd accomplished both of these. He built a superb senior management team and set high expectations for rules compliance and integrity, candor, and student academic performance."

Scott Woodward, UW Vice President for External Affairs, will step in as acting athletic director when Turner leaves. Woodward will continue in his duties as vice president. A national search for Turner's replacement will commence this academic year.

Turner's Full Statement

"After conferring with President Emmert over the last few weeks, it was determined that a change in leadership in the athletics program would be in the best interests of the University. It is with great sadness, but with a sense of pride in what has been accomplished during my tenure as AD, that I have resigned my position effective at the end of January, 2008.

"When I was hired in 2004, the President's primary charge to me was to create a culture of integrity in athletics and to reconnect the athletics program to the mainstream mission of the University. This is something the staff in athletics and I have worked at every day. I do believe we have made great progress.

"My wife, Sara, my children, and I want to thank the UW community for accepting us as your friends as much as you did me as your athletics director. Our time in Seattle at the UW has been an incredible adventure we will cherish always. We will be Huskies for life!"