RIP Former UM AD Jack Weidenbach
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Jack Weidenbach, former University of Michigan Athletic Director (1990-94), has passed away at the age of 99.
Weidenbach's association with Michigan spanned nearly three decades. He joined U-M in 1966 and held several major management positions on campus. Before moving to the athletic department, he was director of business operations and managed the university's physical plant, purchasing, public safety, occupational safety, and environmental health.
Serving the athletic department, Weidenbach worked tirelessly to improve academic support programs for student-athletes and to strengthen women's intercollegiate athletics.
U-M's main athletic administration building at the corner of South State Street and East Hoover Avenue is named in his honor.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:26 AM ^
Damn, 99. Now THAT'S a good run.
Godspeed Jack, true Michigan man.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:32 AM ^
So was he the AD who fired Moeller?
February 19th, 2024 at 10:53 AM ^
No. That would be Joe Roberson who fired Moeller. Moeller was fired in ‘95.
https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19950706&slug=2129859
Forced out by Roberson
February 19th, 2024 at 10:56 AM ^
Joe Roberson was the AD in 1995.
February 19th, 2024 at 6:22 PM ^
National Signing Day?
NumbSkull Day?
No Sense Day?
February 19th, 2024 at 8:33 PM ^
Are we going to have a parade of the signing of the 5 stars!
February 19th, 2024 at 11:28 AM ^
Is he still available to come back? Perhaps at a discounted rate?
February 19th, 2024 at 2:51 PM ^
We will even let him work remotely.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:09 PM ^
Managed things smoothly during a much simpler time - appreciated him for not trying to fix what wasn't broke - Roberson was a pompous jackass who left us with Tom Goss.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:39 PM ^
He was basically a caretaker, with no major hires to make. Football, basketball and hockey all had their coaches in place. It was, however, under his watch that Ed Martin became closely associated with Fisher's program.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:01 PM ^
As it turns out, Martin was just ahead of his time.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:32 PM ^
What's funny about Ed is that he didn't pay those kids to go to Michigan. Even if they wore Green and White, he would've supported them, because he did that as well.
In a way, his paying those kids incentivized them staying in college, which helps the NCAA product on the field.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:06 PM ^
That's right...Mateen Cleaves was no stranger to having his pockets lined by Uncle Ed.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:33 PM ^
Well, except for the whole gambling and money laundering thing
February 19th, 2024 at 3:29 PM ^
To be fair to Jack, Ed was in the locker room in the 80s, along with some other curious characters.
It's amazing how short the tenure of our ADs have been, post-Canham. Warde's working on the second longest run since 1988.
February 19th, 2024 at 7:06 PM ^
Partially true. Ed Martin had relationships with the Michigan program and Michigan-destined recruits during the 1980s under Frieder. That's how Fisher knew him. It was under Weidenbach's watch that Fisher (and Perry Watson) started to give Martin far more preferential treatment.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:29 PM ^
Ah, Tom Goss.....we remember him well.
"Running a Division I athletic department is a bit different than hawking fucking Faygo (his position just prior to AD), eh Tom?" - a thought I once had every day
February 19th, 2024 at 5:42 PM ^
Tom "Ugly Ass Halo" Goss
February 19th, 2024 at 10:02 PM ^
Just imagine a giant Kraft Macaroni noodle in front of that halo... NOT
February 19th, 2024 at 4:55 PM ^
I went to school with one of his kids. Looked a lot like him, tall and gangly with a bookish appearance. RIP, Mr. Weidenbach. Born in the same year as my dad.
February 19th, 2024 at 7:30 PM ^
99. Hell of a ride! RIP.
February 19th, 2024 at 8:26 PM ^
RIP Jack! Almost made it to a century. I would not mind living this long as long as I’m not in pain or have severe dementia!