U paid $112,000 to the search firm that found Teague in 2012

The University of Minnesota paid an Atlanta-based search firm more than $100,000 to find Norwood Teague, the athletic director hired in 2012 who resigned this month amid sexual harassment allegations.

Information released by the U shows that administration officials contracted with Parker Executive Search in February 2012 to find potential candidates to replace retiring athletic director Joel Maturi.

The sole finalist in the search was Teague, who had been athletic director at Virginia Commonwealth University for six years and was credited with being a skilled fundraiser and hanging onto a sought-after basketball coach.

The search contract, signed by U President Eric Kaler on Feb. 21, 2012, included a professional consulting fee of $90,000, a general expense budget of $10,800, and reimbursable travel and interview expenses of $25,000.

Parker's final bill to the U was $112,539.66, including the base fee, expenses of about $20,000 and nearly $2,000 in "food and provisions."

Under its contract, Parker pledged to "conduct background investigations on final candidates" that included an "NCAA sanctions review" for "major … and secondary infractions." The firm said it would research "potentially controversial areas of concern" and conduct reference checks.

Teague, 49, resigned Aug. 7 after he was accused of harassing two women on Kaler's leadership team. A Star Tribune sports reporter also has said that Teague harassed her.

The Star Tribune reported last week that Virginia Commonwealth University, Teague's former employer, paid $125,000 in 2012 to settle a gender discrimination complaint brought against him by a women's basketball coach.

Kaler announced Friday that the U has hired two Minneapolis attorneys to investigate the U's Athletics Department. The attorneys will report their findings to an independent oversight committee that includes a member of the U's Board of Regents.

Kevin Duchschere • 651-925-5035