University of Minnesota names 4 to oversee outside investigation of athletic department

The University of Minnesota has named two regents and two administrators to a committee that will provide "oversight and direction" to an outside investigation of the athletic department.

Regents Laura Brod and Abdul Omari will serve on the panel, along with Jean Quam, dean of the College of Education and Human Development, and the university's chief lawyer, William Donohue.

Last week, the U announced that it was hiring attorneys Karen Schanfield and Joseph Dixon of the Minneapolis law firm Fredrikson & Byron, to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and other concerns in the wake of Norwood Teague's resignation as athletic director.

Teague resigned two weeks ago after acknowledging that he had sexually harassed two female colleagues at a leadership retreat in July.

Dean Johnson, chairman of the board of regents, said the committee will "help cut through red tape" for the outside attorneys and "ensure the process is thorough and complete."