Former AD Muir to go to Stanford

Former Delaware Athletic Director Bernard Muir announced on July 27 he would be leaving Delaware to take the Jaquish and Kenninger director of athletics position at Stanford University.

Muir couldn’t be reached for comment.

The university has promoted Samantha Huge to interim athletic director as Delaware searches for Muir’s replacement.

“I believe the transition has been quite seamless,” Huge said.

Huge has been employed by Delaware since 2009, when she was hired as senior associate director of athletics. 

Huge was promoted to deputy director of athletics and recreation services in 2011.  As deputy director, Huge was a member of the senior management team that oversaw numerous daily operations, including fiscal management, student athlete support services, and NCAA compliance.

Huge is excited to see Delaware’s athletic programs continue to grow in the upcoming year.

“I think we are going to have another really exciting year,” Huge said. “We have the same coaches and a great group of student athletes.”

After being hired in July 2009, Muir made significant contributions to Delaware’s athletic programs during his tenure at the university. As director of athletics Muir oversaw Delaware’s athletic programs become more competitive and made significant strides to expand Delaware’s athletic programs. 

Under Muir, Delaware’s athletic programs won eight CAA titles in six different sports.  In 2009, field hockey won the CAA championship. In 2010, women’s volleyball won the conference tournament, a feat they would repeat the following year. Football won the conference the same year, and made it to the Division I FCS National Championship game. In 2011 men’s soccer won the CAA title, and men’s lacrosse took their second title in a row.

Most recently the women’s basketball team, lead by Elena Della Donne, won the CAA championship and earned a bid in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, where they advanced to the round of 32.

Muir, who was the fourth athletic director at the university since 1940, was able to bolster Delaware’s national presence by securing Delaware as a host for the first and second rounds of the upcoming NCAA division I women’s basketball tournament.

Muir also oversaw the construction of new facilities for the basketball and volleyball teams, as well as improvements to the Bob Carpenter Sports Building. 
“Once that new facility is open, that’s going to be exciting,” Huge said. “It’s thrilling to be able to provide a great experience for our students.”

Delaware has assembled a committee that is currently conducting a search for Muir’s replacement.  Monica Taylor, vice president for development and alumni relations, leads the committee. 
The committee is also comprised of several administrators and faculty members.  Ian Hennessy, the head coach of Delaware’s men’s soccer team, and Tina Martin, the head coach of Delaware’s women’s basketball team, are also members of the search committee. 
“It was a little bittersweet,” Huge said.  “We have built a great team that was excited for him and sad to see him go and thrilled for the opportunities ahead.”