Jan 24th, 2007 01:45PM
by: Steve East

By STEVE EAST
UCA SID

CONWAY — Brad Teague was announced Wednesday as the new athletic director at the University of Central Arkansas.

Teague, in his fourth year as the Director of Athletics at Delta State University, replaces John Thompson, who resigned last week to become offensive coordinator at the University of Mississippi.

“The University of Central Arkansas is fortunate to have an individual with Dr. Teague’s professionalism, administrative ability and experience in fund raising as our athletic director,’ said UCA President Lu Hardin. “Dr. Teague is the quintessential professional. He will be an asset to UCA."

“I am both honored and excited to be named the University of Central Arkansas’ athletic director. UCA is a university on the move. I look forward to working with the faculty, staff and students as we move into Division I competition.

“President Hardin is a visionary in the field of higher education and it will be a privilege to work with him as we move UCA forward."

During Teague’s tenure at Delta State, the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen captured five Gulf South Conference championships and one NCAA National Championship. DSU won the GSC All-Sports Trophy in 2005. During the 2005-06 school year, 10 of Delta State’s 13 athletic teams spent time in their respective national rankings and six competed for NCAA national championships.

Teague spearheaded several large fundraising projects at DSU, including construction of the Billy Dorgan, Jr. Student Performance Center, the J.A. “Bud” Thigpen, Jr. Baseball Annex and the Robert L. Crawford Center.

Teague, a former All-American pitcher for the Statesmen, was awarded the prestigious Gulf South Conference Commissioner’s Trophy as the top student-athlete in the conference in 1992.

Teague began his professional career as the assistant director of the Delta State Alumni foundation in 1992 and served for four years. In June 1996, he moved to Ole Miss as assistant to the athletic director. In July of 1998, he was named the Associate Director of the Ole Miss Loyalty Foundation.

A native of Jackson, Miss., Teague received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Delta State in 1992, his Master’s of Education in Administration from DSU in 1995 and his Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership from Ole Miss in 2000.

He is married to the former Gina Beach of Tunica. They have two sons, Parker and Cooper, and a daughter, Berris.