University of Mass.-Amherst Athletic Director Bob Marcum announced today that he will step down from his post effective June 14. Marcum will participate in the Commonwealth’s early-retirement program after serving the university for nearly a decade.
Under Marcum’s guidance, the university revived its men’s ice hockey program in 1994 after more than a two-decade absence. Marcum was also responsible for attracting well-known and current head coach Don “Toot” Cahoon from Princeton in 2000.
UMass is a member of the Atlantic 10 conference in most sports outside of hockey. The Minutemen have become the A-10’s most dominant all-around program in recent years and have placed the most athletes onto the A-10 all-academic team over the last seven years.
“We’ve had a great run, but I’ve been thinking about making this move for the last few months,” Marcum said. “With a new chancellor [John Lombardi] on board, it just seemed that the timing was right.
“Our department has made tremendous strides, both academically and athletically, over the years due to the efforts of the student-athletes, coaches, and support staff, and I’d like to thank them for all of their hard work and dedication. Without their efforts, our program would not be the success that it is today.”
According to chancellor Marcellette G. Williams, an interim director will be identified and a search committee will be appointed within the next week.
