Ball State athletics director Mark Sandy announced his plan to retire from collegiate athletics on Monday.
Sandy said that he plans to end his tenure in his current position at the end of June.
"Kitty and I have enjoyed our time at Ball State," Sandy said in a press release. "It has been a pleasure to serve with the student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff. Together, we have worked hard to improve our department and add to its successful history."
Sandy came to Ball State in 2015 after spending 10 years at Eastern Kentucky as the director of athletics. Prior to his role as athletic director, Sandy served roles as the associate athletics director at Miami (Ohio) and senior associate athletics director at Richmond. Sandy began his career as a high school mathematics and history teacher while also coaching both basketball and baseball. He made stops as an assistant basketball coach at Evansville, Wake Forest and Virginia Military Institute.
In his three years at Ball State, eight different teams have won Mid-American Conference titles including women's tennis who won back-to-back conference titles and made an appearance in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Several other sports have yet to complete their seasons, including both men's and women's basketball who sit among the best in the conference.
Among his roles as athletics director, Sandy oversaw the completion of the Cardinal Commitment: Developing Champions campaign, a $20.6 million fundraising campaign that was first announced in 2013. Under his leadership he saw the construction of Ball Diamond at First Merchants Ballpark Complex, the Ron and Joan Venderly Football Center and the newly dedicated Early Yestingsmeier Golf Center. The Dr. Don Shondell Practice Center will be completed this summer.
"I want to thank President Mearns and the University leadership for giving me the opportunity to share ideas in my role as Athletics Director," Sandy said. "As Ball State prepares for its Centennial and formulates its next Strategic Plan, it does so with excellent leaders and a bright future.
"The timing just seemed right for me to make this decision now and provide adequate time for transition to a new director."
This story will be updated.
Contact Robby General at rjgeneral@bsu.edu or on Twitter @rgeneraljr.
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