Ball State University Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham accepted the same position at the University of Tulsa Friday, creating a void in the department.
President Jo Ann Gora will be responsible for appointing an interim or full-time athletic director.
"It was a very, very tough decision," Cunningham said. "The opportunity that Tulsa presents is great for [my family and me]. I've really enjoyed my time at Ball State. It's been a wonderful experience."
Cunningham said that the ongoing NCAA textbook investigation did not quicken his decision to leave Ball State. Cunningham met with Gora and The Board of Trustees on Saturday to discuss future plans.
"It sounds like its a nice opportunity for him," Board of Trustees President Tom DeWeese said. "He did and is doing a good job. I hate to see him leave Ball State."
DeWeese said he could recommend an interim athletic director, but doesn't have any knowledge for recommendations. DeWeese also said he thinks Gora will conduct a search to fill the position.
Glenn Augustine, university communications associate director, said he doesn't know when an interim will be named.
"At this point, I'm not aware of a time table for naming an interim," Augustine said.
Cunningham said he kept Gora informed about pursuing the position at Tulsa but nobody else within the university was aware.
Cunningham said he was aware of the opening when officials at Tulsa contacted him following Judy MacLeod's resignation to take an administrative position at Conference USA.
Men's tennis coach Bill Richards was in Tulsa Friday when Cunningham accepted his new position as Patrick Thompson and Matt Baccarani were competing in the ITA All-American Tournament.
"Everyone there is very upbeat and excited," Richards said.
Cunningham spent three years at Ball State, most recently helping create a campaign to renovate the football stadium.
Cunningham said he will be at homecoming Saturday when updates on the stadium campaign will be announced.
Mike Smith, a member of the stadium campaign committee, said Cunningham will likely put the stadium campaign at the top of his resume.
"I hate to see him go, because I think he has a lot of unfinished business at BSU," Smith said via e-mail. "Our teams are not performing as well as some alums would like. The textbook issues remains unexplained.
"We should be given an accounting of BSU finances. But this is also a good opportunity for President Gora to put her own A.D. in place."
Cunningham said he didn't have a time frame for his stay at Ball State when he first came here and doesn't know how long he will stay at Tulsa.
"I thought it would be longer," he said.
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