Andy Geiger
Encyclopedia
Andy Geiger was the director of athletics at five institutions over his career most notably holding that position for 11 years at The Ohio State University (OSU) which contained the largest athletics department in the country.
A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Geiger graduated from Syracuse University
in 1961 and was a member of the crew team as an undergraduate. He also was a member of the U.S. squad that captured a gold medal in the 1959 Pan Am Games.
After graduation Geiger accepted the job of freshman rowing coach at Dartmouth College
in 1961. His first administrative role was as an assistant athletics director at his alma mater in 1964. He left Syracuse in 1970 to become assistant commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference
.
In 1971, at age 32, Geiger became athletics director at Brown University
. He held that position until 1975, when he moved to the University of Pennsylvania
in a similar capacity.
Geiger accepted the head athletics position at Stanford University
in 1979. During his 11-year stay at the Pac-10 school, the Cardinal won a total of 27 national championships and Stanford was considered one of the elite programs in intercollegiate athletics.
In 1990, Geiger left Stanford to take over a Maryland program that was on NCAA probation. He spent a little more than three years later at Maryland working to return the athletics department to stability.
On April 29, 1994 Geiger was named athletic director at Ohio State. He officially assumed the responsibilities of the position on May 16, 1994, succeeding former NACDA President Jim Jones.
Geiger's enduring legacy in Columbus was a building program that resulted in a number of new athletic facilities on campus, most notably the 4,450-seat Bill Davis Stadium
(baseball); the 10,000-seat Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
(track, soccer and lacrosse); and the 19,200-seat Schottenstein Center (basketball, hockey) as well as a $194 Million renovation & expansion of Ohio Stadium
in 1999 & 2000.
On Jan 1, 2005 it was announced that Andy Geiger would retire as Athletic Director effective June 30th, 2005 and would remain with the University through June 2006.
Geiger received the 2009 Homer Rice Award, presented by the Division 1A Athletic Directors’ Association, the NACDA FBS Athletics Director of the Year Award for the Northeast Region in 2004, as well as the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame’s John L. Toner Award and the SportsBusiness Journal Athletics Director of the Year Award, both in 2003.
Geiger was an honorary captain for the Buckeyes during their September 15, 2007 game when they visited the Washington Huskies
.
A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Geiger graduated from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1961 and was a member of the crew team as an undergraduate. He also was a member of the U.S. squad that captured a gold medal in the 1959 Pan Am Games.
After graduation Geiger accepted the job of freshman rowing coach at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1961. His first administrative role was as an assistant athletics director at his alma mater in 1964. He left Syracuse in 1970 to become assistant commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
.
In 1971, at age 32, Geiger became athletics director at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
. He held that position until 1975, when he moved to the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in a similar capacity.
Geiger accepted the head athletics position at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1979. During his 11-year stay at the Pac-10 school, the Cardinal won a total of 27 national championships and Stanford was considered one of the elite programs in intercollegiate athletics.
In 1990, Geiger left Stanford to take over a Maryland program that was on NCAA probation. He spent a little more than three years later at Maryland working to return the athletics department to stability.
On April 29, 1994 Geiger was named athletic director at Ohio State. He officially assumed the responsibilities of the position on May 16, 1994, succeeding former NACDA President Jim Jones.
Geiger's enduring legacy in Columbus was a building program that resulted in a number of new athletic facilities on campus, most notably the 4,450-seat Bill Davis Stadium
Bill Davis Stadium
Bill Davis Stadium is a baseball venue located in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The stadium is home to the Ohio State Buckeyes baseball team of the Big Ten Conference and is named for William C. "Bill" Davis...
(baseball); the 10,000-seat Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium is a 10,000-capacity stadium located in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The stadium is home to the Ohio State Buckeyes men's and women's lacrosse teams as well as the soccer and track and field teams. The stadium opened for soccer in the fall of 2001. It also hosts the...
(track, soccer and lacrosse); and the 19,200-seat Schottenstein Center (basketball, hockey) as well as a $194 Million renovation & expansion of Ohio Stadium
Ohio Stadium
Ohio Stadium is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and is located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974...
in 1999 & 2000.
On Jan 1, 2005 it was announced that Andy Geiger would retire as Athletic Director effective June 30th, 2005 and would remain with the University through June 2006.
Geiger received the 2009 Homer Rice Award, presented by the Division 1A Athletic Directors’ Association, the NACDA FBS Athletics Director of the Year Award for the Northeast Region in 2004, as well as the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame’s John L. Toner Award and the SportsBusiness Journal Athletics Director of the Year Award, both in 2003.
Geiger was an honorary captain for the Buckeyes during their September 15, 2007 game when they visited the Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
.