Northwestern AD retires

EVANSTON, Ill., March 6 (UPI) -- Northwestern Athletic Director Rick Taylor, whose nearly 10-year tenure featured a remarkable revival of a moribund football program, Thursday announced his retirement, effective Aug. 31.

Taylor came to the perennial Big Ten Conference doormat from the University of Cincinnati in January 1994. Two years later, the Wildcats were playing in their first Rose Bowl since 1949. They made it two straight Big Ten titles the following season.

While Taylor did not hire football coach Gary Barnett, he hired Randy Walker in January 1999 after Barnett left to take the job at Colorado. Walker guided Northwestern to a share of the Big Ten crown and a berth in the Alamo Bowl in 2000.

"I am content to let others judge what we have accomplished, knowing that we have a wonderful staff in place and a great group of coaches, and that I have done my best," Taylor said.

Under Taylor, Northwestern has won 17 conference titles and 13 teams have been ranked in the top 25 nationally. He supervised the $35 million renovation of Ryan Field as well as the construction of new facilities for golf, tennis, field hockey, lacrosse and soccer.

"I have been involved in college athletics in one form or the other for every year but one since 1960," Taylor said. "The simple reason for retirement is that I want to do it while I'm healthy and can afford to do so financially. I feel blessed to have worked at a school like Northwestern, an institution that recognizes and adheres to the concept of the true student-athlete."

School President Henry S. Bienen said the school will form a committee to search for a successor.