The Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting that University of Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi will retire as of June 30.
A press conference has been schedules for 11 a.m. Central at TCF Bank Stadium. Maturi is expected to remain with the school as an assistant to the university president, Eric Kaler.
In an email addressed to students athletes, coaches, reporters and staff, Maturi wrote,
"It is with mixed emotions that I share with you that…I will announce my retirement as the director of athletics at the University of Minnesota effective June 30th. There is sadness because I have enjoyed every day of this 10-year journey…."
Maturia has had a rocky tenure as Minnesota’s AD. He was heavily criticized following his hiring of football coach Tim Brewster, who was fired in the middle of the 2010 season. Compounding matters, Maturi hired Brewster to replace Glen Mason, who himself was fired just one year after signing a contract extension.
Brewster, who had never been a head coach, was a flop. In addition to a nightmarish home loss to North Dakota State, Brewster went just 6-21.
Maturi, however, does have some successes to his name. According to the Star-Tribune he avoided the elimination of three sports after the merger of the men’s and women’s athletic departments, and helped spearhead fundraising for TCF Bank Stadium.