Getty ImagesOngoing health problems for Alabama athletic director Mal Moore have resulted in his decision to step down from his position, effective immediately.
Moore made the announcement on Wednesday, where he added that he will serve as a special assistant to President Judy Bonner.
“As many of you may know, due to factors related to my health, I am at a point that I can no longer fulfill my duties as athletics director in the true championship manner the position requires,” said Moore in a statement. “While I have to focus on my health issue, I look forward to maintaining an ongoing working relationship with this great University as special assistant to Dr. Bonner. I know I can count on each of you to continue your unequaled support for me and The University of Alabama.
“I cannot adequately express what the University means to me. It has been a part of my life for more than 50 years, and I feel honored to have served the Crimson Tide as a player, coach and administrator. I am so appreciative of the University administration, coaches, staff, student-athletes and fans who have made my tenure as director so very meaningful, memorable and special.”
Moore, 73, is currently at Duke University Medical Center for pulmonary issues. The AD for UA since 1999, Moore played for the Tide under Bear Bryant and later served as an assistant coach. In all, he’s been part of 10 national championship football teams in various capacities — the last three have come under undoubtedly his best hire, Nick Saban.
There’s no denying how deep his ties to the program run.
“Mal Moore is Crimson Tide sports,” said Bonner. “During his tenure as athletics director, our student athletes have experienced unprecedented success in every aspect of their careers at UA, on the field of play and in the classroom. His contributions to UA athletics on every level are unsurpassed. And, while he will no longer be in charge of day-to-day operations, I am so pleased that we will continue to be able to rely on his wisdom and expertise going forward.”
A search for Moore’s replacement is currently underway.
Our best wishes to Moore going forward.
What a great person and he IS the University of Alabama. I really hate to see him go as he has been such a huge part of Alabama football for most of my life.
Time to bring Ozzie Newsome home.
Dr. Bonner said it best: “Mal Moore is Crimson Tide sports.” His work in the athletic department is known by Tide fans and others beyond the SEC.
He has been very successful in building athletics, not just Tide football, seeing success in many other sports and with facilities he built and expanded and improved. Friends in Alabama said Coach Saban visited with AD Moore before he was transferred to Duke Medical. AD Moore was responsible for hiring Nick Saban along with other recent coaches and presided over a number of national championships in football, and various women’s sports.
Our best to AD Moore in his treatment and restoration of health.
@be4bama
Great idea but I doubt he would leave Baltimore.
So sorry to hear this news. Wishing him all the best in his treatment and hoping for a full recovery.
Like be4bama, I always hoped Ozzie Newsome would succeed Moore as Bama’s AD, but didn’t think that time would come for several more years. I doubt Oz is ready yet to leave the Ravens. Just shocking to think of Mal being forced to step down now.
Best wishes to a class act….and for a brief (yet forgettable…thx to Gerry Faust) time, a former ND asst.
Wishing him all the best for his retirement.
A class act.
Hate to see iconic folks leave their team.
Best Wishes.
Sorry to hear of this. He is Alabama sports.
Best on your treatment and recovery!
DeLoss Dodds, there’s a call waiting from a Judy Bonner for you. Please take the call.
Mal bleeds pure crimson. He made a few decisions I disagreed with, but I never doubted his loyalty, drive, or ability. Got to shake his hand once, will tell my grandkids about it one day. Roll Tide Mal Moore, get better and enjoy what you helped to carry on.
OZZIE will come home and Eric DaCosta will be the Ravens next GM.
I think most ‘Bama fans would love to see Ozzie Newsome return home to Tuscaloosa as the new AD. The major question (aside from whether he would even want to leave the Ravens for any position at all) would be the 800-pound gorilla in the room named Nick Saban. It has widely been believed that Saban has been the de facto AD since he arrived, with Moore performing mainly fundraising efforts and overseeing facility upgrades (at which he has done a phenomenal job). Even if this perception is incorrect, what is well established is that Saban reports directly to President Bonner and not to Moore. The question would be whether Newsome would be comfortable with that arrangement, which he would have no choice but to accept since it is in Saban’s contract.
In any event, my deepest appreciation goes out to Coach Moore. While I have questioned a few of his decisions in hiring (and more than a few of his calls when he served as OC under Gene Stallings) he has been the backbone of Alabama athletics for most of the past half-century. A speedy recovery and a long and happy retirement, coach!
Ozzie would be the perfect choice. Everybody knows how shrewd he is and what a great leader he is…
He’s also apparently an excellent manager of people and I assume he’d be fine with Saban. Ozzie is no dummy.
Ozzie is a fixture with the Ravens. But, this is one job that might make some sense to him. Then again, he’s won two rings with the Ravens and has run his own show.
@dcroz and bralinshan …
Ozzie and Saban cut their teeth together as part of Belichick’s staff with the mid-90s Cleveland Browns, along with Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff–the guy who engineered the move up to draft Bama’s Julio Jones, which has proved very successful for Atlanta. So Ozzie and Nick go way back. Of course, both were lil fish back then
Obvious choice is Ozzie, to replace Mal.
Just make Nick Saban the AD.
Probably pulling a Pete Carroll and bailing out before some serious sanctions come down on him for Alabama cheating, etc. I do notice that he’s at Duke instead of Alabama medical center. Guess Alabama doesn’t have the sharpest Dr’s in the drawer.
Badger why don’t you just GO AWAY…..you’re an a$$
BILL BATTLE will work for me!!!!!
Agree be4bama. Bill will do a great job.
be4bama….. Truth hurts. Doesn’t it? Typical response from a very defensive person.
Depends on the nature of the problem. UAB–the University of Alabama at Birmingham–has one of the best cancer centers in the country. But apparently he has a pulmonary issue. For that, Duke may have the best facility in the region. As someone who’s had three cancer battles and 29 surgeries (in 12 different hospitals, three states, and two countries), I’d do what was best for my medical condition. I’m sure Mal Moore is doing the same. And for all you know, packerbadger, his doctor at Duke is a Bama grad.
But your concern for the health of another human being is touching. Thanks for posting.
Deb: You put it better than I ever could. I was hoping someone would post to the “concerned” packerbadger.
Wish Mal Moore the best for his recovery and retirement.
Not a Dr at Duke, but I do send pts there. How come the good AD isn’t at the fine medical facilities at Alabama? Funny how college with such a fine football program has to send away their AD out of state for care.
PackerBadger, I guess you haven’t heard of some hospitals being better than others for certain issues? If you’ve got a life threatening issue, you find the best of the best to treat it…especially when you can afford to do it.
Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to do it. But, Mal can so I’m sure that he’s found the best person for his problem.
You know, hating on a football team is one thing but only an ass is as callous as you…when a man’s life is at stake.
FYI, Alabama is going to wear that Badger ass out but good in 2015. That team of yours looks like its running in mud every time I watch them.
Good thing you’ve got such great medical care up there…
Badgerpacker, it turns out that some Wisconsin Badger football players have had their knees fixed at the Andrews Orthopedic Clinic in Alabama…
At the #1 rated orthopedic clinic in America…
I can’t believe that you Badgers would let people from Alabama work on you??? Those country bumpkins fixing Badgers?
Couldn’t you find someplace else? They don’t have a guy in Wisconsin to do it? In the entire state?
bralinshan….I think I love you!!!
PackersBadgers biggest problem is he doesn’t think before he writes…
A guy from a state whose major sport is drinking beer and eating cheese…while bowling….shouldn’t talk about anyone else. Of course, if my football team was as “good” as that slow footed bunch in Wisconsin, I might drink and bowl too.
When I watched Wisconsin lose in the Rose Bowl again this year for about the 42nd straight time, I kept hitting “fast forward” on my TV. I thought my new Samsung was broken…I’m just not used to seeing “football” played in slow motion.
Of course, I guess the silver lining is the Badgers 8-6 season this year.
Alabama is 61-6 over six seasons. So, the bright side is that if you can win 53 straight games you can be just like Alabama.
Irishdodger and packerbadger=trolls.
Oh, we aren’t talking about basketball on this football blog, are we.
Pity . . . .
Go Rebs!
Looks like the badgers can’t hang with the SEC in basketball either.
cometkazie: LSU fans pulling for Ole Miss!…..Go to….win it all….Ole Miss! (had to catch myself there!)
be4bama: Ha.
Badger fan and all: When I brought young patients to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans last week, 3 children from Wisconsin were there. Their great doctors are from Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia.
@tigersgeaux …
Two of the best surgeons I’ve ever had were LSU grads!
Deb:
Glad to hear. Same for me. Best doc I know is LSU grad. Best surgeon was too.
Packerbadger where are you hiding? Have you checked out the UpDyke article? And one more thing….ROLL OLE MISS ROLL.