University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Renames Director of Athletics Position to Thomas O. Moe Director of Athletics
2/27/2026 12:49:00 PM | Athletics
The Director of Athletics position has been renamed to honor former student-athlete, administrator
Gopher Athletics announced today that it has renamed its Director of Athletics position to the Thomas O. Moe Director of Athletics. This is the first named position in Gopher Athletics, and it honors the late Tom Moe, who was a former Minnesota student-athlete and administrator who passed away earlier this month.
Members of the Moe family will be recognized at the Minnesota men's basketball game on Saturday as Gopher Athletics honors their late father and grandfather.
Moe was a standout Minnesota student-athlete while in college and returned to the U to serve as the Director of Minnesota's Men's Athletic Department. In between his time with the Gophers, he was a successful lawyer and businessman in his professional career. In his personal life, he had the privilege of watching several family members compete for the Gophers.
"It is an honor to be the first individual to serve under the title of Thomas O. Moe Director of Athletics," said Mark Coyle. "Tom's Minnesota legacy is one of excellence and there is no better person to have this position named after. As an administrator, he helped unite the department and laid the groundwork to bring football back to campus. Whether it was at the University Minnesota or in his professional career, he put others in front of himself to pursue the greater good. We are thankful for his service and for his family's numerous contributions to Gopher Athletics."
The naming is accompanied by an anonymous gift dedicated to advancing Gopher Athletics and enhancing the overall student-athlete experience.
Moe was a two-sport star for the Gophers and proudly represented Minnesota on the football field and on the baseball diamond.
He was a receiver for the football team from 1957-59, and he led the team in receiving yards in 1958 before being named Team MVP in 1959. Moe also played baseball from 1958-60. He had a .330 career batting average and was a member of the 1960 NCAA national championship team.
He graduated from Minnesota in 1960 with a degree in economics and then from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1963.
Moe joined the Twin Cities-based Dorsey & Whitney law firm, becoming partner in 1968. He became Chairman of the Policy Committee and managing partner of the firm in 1989, and he served in those roles for 10 years. Under his leadership, the firm grew into one of the largest in the nation.
In 1999, Moe was named Interim Director of Minnesota's Men's Athletic Department. He was named to the full-time position a year later and remained there until 2002. His emphasis was always on the "student" part of student-athlete, and he helped facilitate the successful merger of the men's and women's athletic departments.
During his tenure, he also played a critical role in laying the groundwork for an on-campus football stadium. The 2026 football season will be Minnesota's 18th at Huntington Bank Stadium, which stands just mere feet away from Memorial Stadium, which is where Moe played when he was a Minnesota student-athlete. His advocacy and passion helped pave the way for a generation of fans and student-athletes to experience the excitement and pageantry of on-campus college football.
Two of Moe's children – son Michael and daughter Jennie – were student-athletes for the Gophers. Michael played football and Jennie authored one of the most successful tennis careers in school history. Jennie's husband – Moe's son-in-law – Bob Coughlin also played football for Minnesota.
Three of Moe's grandsons played football for the Gophers in Carter Coughlin, Quinn Coughlin and Cole Kramer and fellow grandson Mason Moe is a current member of the men's hockey team.
Moe was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame in 2000 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award. He also served on corporate and civic boards, was inducted into the Edina High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and was named 2000 "Lawyer of the Year" by Law and Politics Magazine.
Members of the Moe family will be recognized at the Minnesota men's basketball game on Saturday as Gopher Athletics honors their late father and grandfather.
Moe was a standout Minnesota student-athlete while in college and returned to the U to serve as the Director of Minnesota's Men's Athletic Department. In between his time with the Gophers, he was a successful lawyer and businessman in his professional career. In his personal life, he had the privilege of watching several family members compete for the Gophers.
"It is an honor to be the first individual to serve under the title of Thomas O. Moe Director of Athletics," said Mark Coyle. "Tom's Minnesota legacy is one of excellence and there is no better person to have this position named after. As an administrator, he helped unite the department and laid the groundwork to bring football back to campus. Whether it was at the University Minnesota or in his professional career, he put others in front of himself to pursue the greater good. We are thankful for his service and for his family's numerous contributions to Gopher Athletics."
The naming is accompanied by an anonymous gift dedicated to advancing Gopher Athletics and enhancing the overall student-athlete experience.
Moe was a two-sport star for the Gophers and proudly represented Minnesota on the football field and on the baseball diamond.
He was a receiver for the football team from 1957-59, and he led the team in receiving yards in 1958 before being named Team MVP in 1959. Moe also played baseball from 1958-60. He had a .330 career batting average and was a member of the 1960 NCAA national championship team.
He graduated from Minnesota in 1960 with a degree in economics and then from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1963.
Moe joined the Twin Cities-based Dorsey & Whitney law firm, becoming partner in 1968. He became Chairman of the Policy Committee and managing partner of the firm in 1989, and he served in those roles for 10 years. Under his leadership, the firm grew into one of the largest in the nation.
In 1999, Moe was named Interim Director of Minnesota's Men's Athletic Department. He was named to the full-time position a year later and remained there until 2002. His emphasis was always on the "student" part of student-athlete, and he helped facilitate the successful merger of the men's and women's athletic departments.
During his tenure, he also played a critical role in laying the groundwork for an on-campus football stadium. The 2026 football season will be Minnesota's 18th at Huntington Bank Stadium, which stands just mere feet away from Memorial Stadium, which is where Moe played when he was a Minnesota student-athlete. His advocacy and passion helped pave the way for a generation of fans and student-athletes to experience the excitement and pageantry of on-campus college football.
Two of Moe's children – son Michael and daughter Jennie – were student-athletes for the Gophers. Michael played football and Jennie authored one of the most successful tennis careers in school history. Jennie's husband – Moe's son-in-law – Bob Coughlin also played football for Minnesota.
Three of Moe's grandsons played football for the Gophers in Carter Coughlin, Quinn Coughlin and Cole Kramer and fellow grandson Mason Moe is a current member of the men's hockey team.
Moe was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame in 2000 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award. He also served on corporate and civic boards, was inducted into the Edina High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and was named 2000 "Lawyer of the Year" by Law and Politics Magazine.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Wednesday, February 04
Cub Plays of the Week
Wednesday, September 24
Cub Plays of the Week
Thursday, September 18
Cub Plays of the Year
Monday, July 14