Doug Dull, Maryland’s associate athletic director for media relations, is resigning to launch a sports communications firm, university officials announced Friday.

A Maryland graduate, Dull will retain a business relationship with his alma mater following his July 6 departure, advising the athletics department on communications issues and media-relations strategy. According to a release issued by the university Friday, he’ll also provide editorial content and consult on the logistics of many of the Terrapins’ special events as part of his new endeavor.

Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson praised the work Dull has done on behalf of Terrapin athletics and thanked him, on a personal note, for easing his own transition to the university.

“Doug’s passion for the university, the profession and his institutional knowledge have been invaluable,” Anderson said in a statement. He added that a national search for Dull’s successor would begin immediately.

A 23-year veteran of the college-sports industry, Dull began his career as a sports writer and editor of the Hagerstown Herald-Mail. He served as sports information director at Chico State, the University of California-Davis and Kansas State before returning to College Park nine years ago as Maryland’s sports information director. Since then, he has also served as the primary media contact for Maryland’s men’s basketball and men’s and women’s track.

“I’m excited about this new chapter in my career,” Dull said in a statement. “I have appreciated the opportunity to work at my alma mater and have been thrilled to work with some of the best professionals in college sports, from our coaches to the local and national media.”

The Maryland men’s basketball team will play George Mason in next season’s BB&T Classic, Patriots Athletic Director Tom O’Connor confirmed to The Post’s Steven Goff on Wednesday.

The game will be played Dec. 2 at Verizon Center.

It will be the Terrapins’ 17th appearance in the tournament, in which Maryland and George Mason have met once (2004, a 78-54 Maryland victory). The Terrapins lead the all-time series, 6-0.

Last season, Maryland defeated Notre Dame in the BB&T Classic, 78-71.

Logan Aronhalt, the latest addition to Maryland’s revolving basketball roster, doesn’t expect to march in as a transfer and lead the Terrapins in scoring next season.

But at 22, with three seasons of college experience and a degree from Albany, the 6-foot-3 shooting guard believes he can provide some of the consistency and seasoning Maryland’s young team will need in Coach Mark Turgeon’s second season.

A native of Zanesville, Ohio, Aronhalt confirmed Monday that he’s transferring to Maryland to help shore up a depleted back court. He’ll be eligible to compete immediately because he plans to enroll in graduate school, taking advantage of the same NCAA provision that’s enabling former Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien to compete next season at Wisconsin.

Aronhalt said he was first contacted by Maryland assistant coach Scott Spinelli about the Terps’ interest and followed up by telephone with Turgeon, who impressed him as “a real down-to-earth, honest guy.”

Maryland’s football season opener against William & Mary will be at 3 p.m. Sept. 1 and televised online at ESPN3.com, the network announced Thursday.

Terrapins Coach Randy Edsall will face his former team, Connecticut, on Sept. 15 at 12:30. The game will be picked up regionally by the ACC Network and also televised online at ESPN3.com.

Conference game times are generally decided 12 days before the games. Start times for Maryland’s two nonconference road games (at Temple on Sept. 8 and at West Virginia on Sept. 22) will be announced by the Big East and Big 12, respectively.

(John McDonnell - THE WASHINGTON POST) Ashton Pankey, a forward who started 17 games as a redshirt freshman in 2011-12, will transfer from Maryland, the school announced Tuesday.

Pankey is the third Maryland player to depart the team in recent weeks. Mychal Parker announced his intention to transfer in April, and then he and guard Terrell Stoglin were suspended for the upcoming season late last month for violating the university’s student-athlete code of conduct. Stoglin then announced his intention to play professionally.

Pankey, who hails from the Bronx, cited family reasons as the reason for his departure.

“My mom is the rock in my life and I promised her I would take care of her like she did for me,” Pankey said in a statement released by the school. “Therefore, I am choosing to put my family first and look for a school closer to home.

“I’m sad that I must leave the University of Maryland, as I have enjoyed my time here with my teammates and coaches who have been my second family. I would like to thank them for their support during this time. I’ve become a better person and player while at Maryland.”