Hedges Decides It’s Time to Step Down

Washington Athletic Director Barbara Hedges is retiring after a year in which she faced criticism about problems with the football, basketball and softball teams.

She told a news conference Friday she had considered the move for several months and discussed it with school President Lee Huntsman last fall. She will retire effective next Friday.

Hedges, 66, has held the position since 1991 and has the longest tenure of any athletic director in the Pacific 10 Conference. She came to Washington from USC, where she had been senior associate director of athletics.

“It feels like the right time to retire,” Hedges said. “Our department has made tremendous strides both academically and athletically over the years due to the efforts of the student athletes, coaches and support staff.”

Hedges’ announcement follows a year of turmoil in the athletic department -- the firing of football coach Rick Neuheisel, recruiting violations by the basketball team and a drug scandal involving a physician with the softball team.

Hedges hired Neuheisel in 1999 and gave him a raise after he led the Huskies to the Pac-10 title in 2000. She fired him in June for participating in two college basketball gambling pools with his friends.

She rejected his appeal to keep his job and $1.2 million annual salary on July 1.

Last month, Hedges reassigned softball coach Teresa Wilson in the wake of accusations that Dr. William Scheyer had handed out painkillers and medications to players without first examining them.

Hedges oversaw a $40-million renovation of the basketball arena, the construction of a new football practice facility and stadiums for softball, baseball and soccer. Under Hedges, Husky teams won five national and 46 conference titles.