Gerald Myers' Texas Tech career will officially come to a close at the end of May.
President Guy Bailey said Myers first told him that he wanted to retire earlier this Summer. However, his request was put on hold.
At the time, talks of Big 12 realignment were sending shock waves through the sports world, and as Bailey said, Tech simply couldn't afford to lose Myers at that time.
"Gerald Myers talked to me awhile back about wanting to retire and I have enormous respect for Gerald, I've known him for a long time and think really highly of him," Bailey said. "Gerald has been a part of this university for more than half a century, and has done a tremendous job, I respect and like him as much as anybody I know."
President Guy Bailey said, there's no doubt, Myers had quite the year.
"He was always very level headed and calm, very slow to take rash action, he was terrific throughout all of this and so, you know all of us are glad everything has passed," Bailey said. "When we had the coaching situation, then right on top of that the Big 12 realignment, it's enough to fill your plate in a hurry and Gerald's been remarkarable through all that."
Bailey said Myers' decision to retire has nothing to do with the controversy surrounding Mike Leach's firing earlier this year.
"Gerald has to make decisions everyday, what's the best thing for Texas Tech, not necessarily the easiest thing or the easiest thing for me but what's the best thing for Texas Tech and for our students," Bailey said. "You make that decision and those decisions have consequences for you but that's what you get paid to do."
"One thing I admire about Gerald is regardless of how difficult the situation is, he is a complete gentleman," Bailey said.
Although Myers has announced his retirement, his role in Texas Tech Athletics is not over yet, Bailey said. As a result of Big 12 realignment, football and basketball resheduling is still in the works.
Bailey said Myers' experience and long time relationships with other athletic directors across the nation will require him to be a part of this transition.
"We'll put together a search committee sometime this Fall and begin a national search for a replacement," Bailey said. "We don't really have a timeline or anything and Gerald will work with us in the transition when we find somebody."
Bailey said Myers is definitely going out on a good note, what's described as his biggest accomplishment, the East side expansion of Jones AT&T Stadium is now complete. That facility is expected to be up and running by next Sunday's game agaisnt SMU.
"And now our stadium both the East and West side I think it's the prettiest in the country," Bailey said. "Really the best stadium in the country, I think more than anything he sees his work as done."
Bailey said Myers' played a key role in improving and updating every athletic facility on campus.
A statement issued by Myers says: "I am happy to retire at a time that all other areas of the athletic department are functioning well."
He goes on to say: "I am committed to work hard to make the last year of my tenure as athletic director the best year ever for Texas Tech."
"We'll miss him very much, we know that in his retirement, he'll have a wonderful life," Bailey said.
For this story, analysis by Robert Giovanetti and an interview with former player and current assistant coach Bubba Jennings, click on the video to the right.
