Muir Steps Down as AD to Take Same Post at Delaware

Georgetown athletic director Bernard Muir has stepped down to assume the same post at the University of Delaware, bringing an end to his four-year tenure on the Hilltop.

Muir succeeds Edgar Johnson, who retired after 25 years at the helm of Delaware athletics.

Muir's appointment, announced Monday by Delaware officials, was hailed as a coup for the state's flagship university, which had launched a national search for an administrator capable of helping the Blue Hens raise their athletic and academic profile.

From Muir's perspective, it represented an enticing opportunity to return to a program with a strong football tradition.

"The football piece is an important one with my background," said Muir, 40, reached by telephone. "That was really something that was important, along with building a program across the board."

Muir had served as deputy director of athletics/administration at Notre Dame before being named Georgetown's 10th athletic director in June 2005. A 1990 graduate of Brown, Muir boasts an academic profile that mirrors that of Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson III, serving as co-captain of Brown's basketball squad his senior year.

Thompson called Muir as "a terrific leader" in a statement released by the university. "His energy and enthusiasm will be missed here at Georgetown," it read. "On a personal level, I will miss working with him. He is intelligent, insightful and always has the well being of the student-athlete at his forefront."

In Delaware for the announcement, Muir said he looked forward to working with university officials to create an ideal environment for student-athletes. He also spoke about his eagerness to reach out to Delaware alumni and former student-athletes to make them feel a part of Blue Hen athletics.

Georgetown President John J. DeGioia expressed his appreciation to Muir.

"At Georgetown, Bernard has recruited outstanding new coaches and bolstered academic support and leadership development opportunities for our student athletes." DeGioia's statement read. "I appreciate Bernard's collegiality and work with many members of not only our campus community but also senior colleagues in the NCAA, Big East and Patriot League. I am proud that our 29 women's and men's athletics programs represented Georgetown with integrity and commitment during Bernard's tenure and wish him every success in his new role at the University of Delaware."

Muir will begin his new job July 6.