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One of the nation's most respected A.D.'s will return to his desk at Stanford on May 19.
Jan. 23, 2003
Dr. Ted Leland, Stanford University's Director of Athletics since 1991, will take a "special research leave" from his post beginning March 1, 2003. Leland, one of the nation's most respected leaders in college athletics, will return to his position on May 19, 2003.
Debi Gore-Mann, currently Senior Associate Athletic Director for Finance and Business Affairs, will assume the temporary role of Interim Athletic Director during Leland's absence. Gore-Mann, a former basketball player at Stanford, earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 1982 and an MBA in 1987.
During his 11-week leave, Leland will be a Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. Leland said he plans to do research work for a book, work on four national speeches he is scheduled to deliver and do some writing in addition to spending time with his family.
"I have been on this treadmill for quite a while," said Leland, who was named Stanford's Director of Athletics on June 7, 1991, "and this leave will give me a chance to step off and focus on some of my other interests."
"I appreciate the opportunity provided me by John Hennessy (Stanford University President) and John Raisian and the Hoover Institute. While I am looking forward to this time away from my job as Athletic Director, I look forward to returning on May 19."
Hennessy indicated that Leland's "special research leave" acknowledges Leland's contributions to the university.
"Ted Leland and his staff have built the preeminent athletic program in the country, " Hennessy said. "He has shown a tireless dedication to Stanford and our student athletes and he richly deserves this leave. I hope this time allows Ted to pursue intellectual and personal interests and that he returns to Stanford in May renewed and reinvigorated."
Leland, who earned a bachelor's degree in 1970 and a master's in physical education from the University of the Pacific in 1972, earned his Ph.D. from Stanford in 1982 in education/sports psychology. He has held the position of "adjunct professor" at Dartmouth College, UOP and Stanford, teaching courses in Sports Psychology and the Philosophy of Sport.
Leland has been an Athletic Director since1983. He was the A.D. at Dartmouth College from '83-89 before assuming the same post at UOP from '89-91 prior to his arrival at Stanford. During his tenure, he has elevated Stanford to one of the most admired, respected and successful athletic departments in the nation. Under his leadership, Cardinal teams have won 42 NCAA team championships, best in the nation, while winning the Sears Directors' Cup as the top overall athletic department in the nation in each of the past eight years.
In 2000-01, Leland was honored by NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) and Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal as the Athletic Director of the Year. He is currently co-chairman of the United States Secretary of Education's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics. The 15-member panel is examining ways of strengthening enforcement of Title IX and expanding opportunities to ensure fairness for all college athletes. The commission will issue a final report on Feburary 28.