After 16 years of service leading the Fighting Muskies and more than 40 years in intercollegiate athletics, Muskingum University Athletic Director Larry Shank will retire at the end of the current academic year, the University announced today. His last day with the University will be June 30, 2018. Muskingum plans to launch a national search for his successor immediately.

During Shank's tenure, Muskingum upgraded a number of athletic facilities by adding turf to Sherman Field and renovating the football, basketball, soccer and lacrosse locker rooms. In 2017, the University added a second, multi-purpose turf athletic venue for soccer and lacrosse competition — positioning Muskingum as one of only a select number of NCAA Division III institutions in the region with multiple turf fields — and installed state-of-the-art video scoreboards to both the new turf venue and the Anne C. Steele Center. In addition, the University added lacrosse to its intercollegiate offerings.

"Larry's experience and leadership as a coach, athletic director and committee member have been so beneficial to countless student-athletes, both on our campus and at our fellow OAC institutions and NCAA Division III institutions around the country," said Muskingum University President Susan S. Hasseler. "His impact on Muskingum will be felt long into the future."

Since arriving in New Concord, Shank has served in a variety of leadership positions within the OAC, including president of the OAC during the 2011-2013 academic years and vice president from 2009-2011. Shank has also chaired the OAC's Scheduling Committee and the Director of Athletics Committee and served on the Officials Committee, Promotions Committee and Executive Committee. In 2016, he was appointed to the NCAA Division III Infractions Appeal Committee.

"The Conference is better off today because Larry has been in our family for all these years," said OAC Commissioner Tim Gleason. "While I will miss him professionally, I am happy for him personally and I wish him well in the next chapter of his life."

Shank's journey in intercollegiate athletics started in 1974 as a graduate assistant football coach at Western Michigan University. Since that time he has served in a variety of professional roles at various institutions, including as assistant athletic director and head football coach at Heidelberg University prior to his arrival in New Concord.

"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead Muskingum's athletic department," Shank said. "Throughout the years, it's been a privilege to represent the University to the OAC and NCAA, and extremely rewarding to work alongside our exceptional student-athletes, coaches and administrators. I will always cherish these relationships and my time as athletic director."