CU Athletic Director Rick George shakes hands with members of the C-Unit prior at Coors Event Center prior to tipoff. Feb. 24, 2016 (Nigel Amstock/CU Independent File)
The University of Colorado Boulder announced on Thursday that Athletic Director Rick George will be stepping down from his role at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. George will transition to a new role as Special Advisor to the Chancellor and AD Emeritus.
“Serving as Athletic Director has been the honor of a lifetime,” George said in a statement sent out on Thursday. “This was an extremely difficult decision for me and one that was made after discussions with my wife, Nancy, that began in April.”
George served as CU’s Athletic Director since 2013, and was named Division I Athletic Director of the Year for the 2023-2024 year. Notably, he helped bring in Colorado football coach Deion Sanders.
Prior to his appointment as AD, George was hired by then Colorado football coach Bill McCartney in 1987 as CU football’s recruiting coordinator, and served as assistant athletic director for football operations during the Buffs’ 1990 championship season.
Before returning to CU, George worked in a variety of roles, including the executive vice president and chief of operations for the PGA TOUR, as well as chief operating officer for the Texas Rangers. George was also on the College Football Playoff committee for a three-year contract beginning in 2020.
As Athletic Director, George made a name for himself through sustainability efforts, spearheading the implementation of the Athletic Complex Expansion, including a new indoor practice facility, which was part of CU’s Sustainable Excellence Initiative.
George was also a student-athlete himself at the University of Illinois, where he played cornerback, lettering four years.
No announcements have been made regarding plans for the next athletic director.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Lila Nuttle at lila.nuttle@colorado.edu.
