University of Minnesota general counsel William Donohue on Friday hired an outside counsel to conduct an independent investigation into sexual harassment in the school's athletic department.

The move follows the Aug. 7 resignation of athletic director Norman Teague after at least two women administrators in the university president's office accused Teague of inappropriate sexual conduct at a leadership conference. He reportedly groped the women and texted or made sexually suggestive comments, such as wanting to have oral sex.

Teague admitted his behavior and blamed it on alcoholism, for which he said he was seeking treatment. He told Hubbard Broadcasting that he was drunk and “behaved badly towards nice people.”