West Virginia University will launch a national search for a director of athletics this month to succeed Ed Pastilong, the school's long-serving athletic administrator who helped shape and build the department's national reputation, president James P. Clements announced today.

Pastilong's retirement from his position as athletic director takes effect June 30, 2010.

Pastilong, who has successfully led WVU's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics for 20 years -- from spearheading major capital improvements to growing the athletic department budget -- will continue in a key advisory role as athletic director emeritus through 2012, as previously announced.

"I want to thank Ed for all his many contributions over the years," Clements said. "On so many fronts -- from initiating major new facilities and capital projects to more than doubling the athletic department budget and making sure our student-athletes are successful on- and off-the-field -- this department is strong and poised for the future."

Clements, who will lead the athletic director search, said the timing of the search coincides with the West Virginia's long-term strategic planning process.

Pastilong, who has been with West Virginia since 1976, said, "It has been my greatest honor and pleasure to have served WVU for more than three decades -- 20 as director of athletics. We accomplished much together, and we're at a great place in the history of the WVU athletic program and our 17 varsity sports."

Pastilong's contributions are numerous. He spearheaded more than $85 million in facility renovations, including many at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium - making WVU's football facility among the nation's best. Suites to three sides of the stadium were added, along with a club seating area, the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility, new locker rooms, the Reynolds Family Academic Center and the Donald J. Brohard Hall of Traditions.

The department's budget grew from $20 million to more than $59 million under Pastilong, and he steered WVU into the Big East football conference in 1991 and into full-fledged member status in 1995.

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