Unfortunately, Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson won’t get to oversee the school’s inevitable move (at least in his own mind) to the SEC.
Just one day after firing football coach Larry Porter, Johnson announced in a press conference Monday that he would retire from his position effective June 30, 2012.
“It’s been a great ride, but it’s time,” Johnson said. “I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but I just recently turned 70. I’ve been an athletic director for 33 years. It’s a great, great thing to be an athletic director. I’ve loved it. But, it’s time. It’s time. I also don’t want my future to take away from anything that we are trying to accomplish because we have a lot of things going on. I don’t want any distractions.”
Johnson was hired by Memphis in 1995.
“While we will have lots of opportunities during the spring semester to celebrate R.C.’s commitment and the Athletic Department’s accomplishments in numerous sports, I want to say today that we owe a debt of gratitude to R.C. and Melba [R.C.’s wife] for their commitment and determination as they’ve served the city and, most importantly, our University,” said school president Shirley Raines.
Raines added that a search firm will be hired and a search committee will be formed to find replacements for Porter and Johnson.