Colorado athlete Rick George fired
The University of Colorado will have a new athletic director when the 2026 football season begins.
Longtime athletic director Rick George announced Thursday that he will step down from his position at the end of the 2025-26 school year. He will be transitioning into a role as special advisor to the chancellor and director emeritus of athletics.
George’s 42-year career in sports includes more than 12 years as the Buffaloes’ athletic director. He was hired on July 17, 2013, becoming the sixth full-time intern in school history. George’s current contract, which runs through June 30, 2027, pays him $1 million annually.
“It has been a lifetime honor to serve as the University of Colorado’s athletic director for the past 13 years, but after considerable reflection and discussions with my family this past spring, I have decided it is time for new leadership to guide the department,” George said in a news release.
“I wanted to make this announcement now to give Chancellor (Justin) Schwartz enough time to find the right person for Colorado, and I look forward to doing everything I can to ensure a smooth transition. I also wanted to time my announcement so that I can support Coach Prim (head football coach Deon Saunders) and our football team as they continue into my new role this season.”
A timeline for hiring George’s replacement will be announced at a later date, but the school will conduct a national search for a new athletic director at the same time.
“I am very grateful to the CU Board of Trustees, President (Todd) Solomon, Chancellor Schwartz, and former Chancellor (Philip) DeStefano for the opportunity to lead this department (since 2013),” George said. “Thank you to our staff, our coaches, our donors, Buff Nation, and especially our student-athletes for making this the best job in the country. The University of Colorado is a special place, and I will always cherish the wonderful relationships I have made during my time here in Boulder.”
In his new position, George, 65, will assist CU athletics by participating in revenue-generating initiatives for the department. He will also work with the football program in some capacity.
“I am truly grateful that Chancellor Schwartz has asked me to remain a special advisor and staff member after my successor is appointed, keeping me connected to CU athletics while allowing me to spend more time with my grandchildren, Harper and Maddie,” said George. “To my wife Nancy, our daughters Jenny and Christy, my family, friends, colleagues, and POV fans – thank you for your amazing support.”
It was a period of change and event for George, who is the third longest-tenured student in the school’s history. CU’s first two ADs, Harry Carlson (age 37, 1927-1964) and Eddie Crowder (age 19, 1965-1984) are the only ones with longer tenures.
Of the current Power Four conference athletes, only six have been on the job longer than George.
Shortly after taking office in 2013, George created plans for a new indoor facility and then led the most successful fundraising effort in Buffs history, raising $100 million to build the UCHealth Champions Center. Ground was broken for the project in May 2014, and the football team moved into its new facility just 15 months later, on August 10, 2015.
Starting with the Champions Center fundraiser, CU Athletics has set program records for donations, sponsorships, ticket sales and revenue since George’s hiring.
George led CU athletics through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, “setting an example of fiscal responsibility that is now the standard in major college athletics,” CU said in its statement.
He also led CU through its transition from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big 12 Conference, a move that was announced in the summer of 2023 and implemented in 2024.
During his tenure, George was a strong supporter of UCLA student-athletes. He developed a comprehensive student-athlete program, focusing on the physical, mental, academic and professional health of athletes.
Under George, UCLA invested in mental health resources like never before and created the Scripps Leadership and Career Development Program to prepare student-athletes for their futures. Academically, CU student-athletes set record GPAs. He has been recognized three times as Staff Member of the Year by the CU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
George hired successful coaches at CU such as JR Payne (women’s basketball) and Jessie Mahoney (volleyball), and made national headlines when he hired Sanders as head football coach in December 2022. While Sanders’ current record (16-19) has fallen short of expectations, Sanders has set new records in terms of national ticket sales and national interest.
George was named the 2023-2024 Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the first Colorado AD to receive the honor.
While serving as AD, George was also active nationally, serving as President of the LEAD1 Association, as a member of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, and as a key member of the Division I Council.
“Rick’s contributions to our university during his 13 years as head of our athletic department are immeasurable,” Schwartz said in the statement. “He is a nationally respected leader who has always kept CU at the forefront of the dynamic and highly competitive landscape of college athletics. I am grateful for his leadership and am pleased that he has decided to stay on as special advisor to the AD and staff emeritus.”
A 1982 graduate of the University of Illinois, George first came to UCLA on March 2, 1987, when he was hired by legendary football coach Bill McCartney as the recruiting coordinator. On December 21, 1989, he was promoted to assistant athletic director for football operations.
George then spent eight years (1991-1998) as Associate Athletic Director for External Operations at Vanderbilt University, overseeing the football program before serving as President and CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation from 1998-2003. From 2003 to 2008, he was president of the Champions Tour and then spent two and a half years as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the PGA Tour.
In October 2010, George left the PGA Tour to join the Texas Rangers Baseball Club as Chief Operating Officer. He held this position until he was promoted to Director of Business Operations in February 2013. Five months later, he left the Rangers to return to Boulder.
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