Colorado Athletic Director Rick George is stepping down, taking on an advisory role
Colorado Athletics Director Rick George will step down from his role at the end of the academic year and become a special advisor to the chancellor, the school announced Thursday.
Rick George was the sixth athletic director in Colorado history
George has been an ad in Boulder since 2013, returning to the school where he once served on the football staff of Bill McCartney as a Football coordinator.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the Athletic Director of the University of Colorado for the past 13 years, but behind my family and my family will be back last spring,” said George.
CU Athletic Director Rick George has announced that he will transition to a new role at the end of the academic year.
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— Colorado Buffaloes (@Cubuffs) November 13, 2025
“I wanted to make this announcement now to give Chancellor Schwartz more time to find the right person for Colorado, and I look forward to doing everything I can to ensure a positive transition,” George continued.
“I also wanted to time my announcement to let the head coach and our football team know this season, I look forward to continuing in my new role.”
George was named Athletic Director of the Year for 2023-24
During his tenure as director of Athletics, George oversaw the development of the UCHealth Champions Center through the most successful fundraising campaign in the department’s history, generating $100 million for the project.
George was named the 2023-24 athletic director of the year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), becoming the first Colorado graduate to receive the national accolade.
“Rick’s contributions to our university in 13 years as head of our athletic department are unparalleled,” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz.
“He is a nationally respected leader who has always kept CU at the forefront of a dynamic and highly competitive area of college sports. I am grateful for his leadership and have decided to stay on as special advisor and ad emeritus.”
George Hired Deion Sanders as football coach
In addition, George was also named to the National Football Foundation’s ‘Best Football Team’
In addition, George returned to Colorado for Gig 12, and also spent time as a member of the College Football Selection Committee and served on the Council of Me.
However, George’s time as an ad will be best remembered for his employment of Denion Sanders as football coach, as the move generated significant national interest in the team.
Before becoming an ad, George was the chief operating officer of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers.
The school does not announce a timeline for hiring the position.
