Bernard Muir led Stanford athletics in the Cardinal’s leap to the Atlantic Coast Conference after the implosion of the Pac-12.
A new athletics director will be at the head of the department in Stanford’s second year in the North Carolina-based conference.
Stanford announced on Tuesday that Muir will step down at the end of the academic year, which runs through June 10. The news was first reported Monday by ESPN and confirmed by Jon Wilner of this news organization.
“I am forever proud of the history we made and protected, the long list of championships and champions, and the focus we applied to connecting those committed to this university to the greatest good for the Cardinal,” Muir said in a statement. “My experience at Stanford will forever hold its significant place on my treasured journey in collegiate sports.”
Since Muir took over in 2012, Stanford has won 33 NCAA titles and 46 national championships overall, the school’s release said. Those titles include the the 2021 women’s basketball championship, three straight men’s soccer titles (2015-2017) and two women’s soccer titles (2017 and 2019).
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The Cardinal’s downturn on the football field and the difficulty of cross-country travel for the teams competing in the ACC are daunting challenges for the next athletics director.
The school will name an acting AD in the coming weeks before embarking on a search for Muir’s permanent replacement.
“Bernard has led the Cardinal to more championships than any other college athletic program and has helped Stanford navigate the biggest changes the college athletics landscape has ever seen,” Stanford president Jon Levin said in a statement. “I’m grateful for all that he has done for Stanford and for our students.”
