Weaver accepts Toner Award

Virginia Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver was presented the 2009 John L. Toner Award on Tuesday by the National Football Foundation at its annual awards dinner.

The Toner Award is given each year to an athletic director who has demonstrated superior administrative abilities and shown outstanding dedication to college athletics and particularly college football.

The announcement that Weaver would be the 2009 recipient was made by NFF chairman Archie Manning in June, but Weaver was formally honored as part of the NFF's 52nd annual dinner, a black-tie, $600-per-plate event at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan.

"Never in a million years did I think something like that would happen," Weaver said Thursday of receiving the Toner Award.

Weaver, in his 13th year in Blacksburg, has had a strong hand in the growth of Virginia Tech athletics, especially the football program. He helped coordinator Virginia Tech's move into the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2004, which had a profound impact on the university and its sports teams.

He also had presided over several major facilities upgrades, including remodeling of Lane Stadium to include, among other amenities, new luxury suits, a new president's area and four private club seating areas in time for the 2006 season opener. In 2009, Virginia Tech unveiled a $20 million basketball practice facility with two gyms, a 3,000-square foot weight room, coaches' offices and locker rooms.

A new football locker room and lounge is building is expected to be completed in advance for the 2010 season.

Weaver came to Virginia Tech from Western Michigan University, where he was the athletic director from January 1996 until September 1997. Before then, he was the University of Nevada-Las Vegas athletic director for three and a half years.