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Saint Francis

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Last updated: February 10, 2011 1:38 p.m.

Saint Francis AD to retire

Pope will leave at end of academic year

Journal Gazette

Saint Francis ahletic director Mark Pope is retiring at the end of the current academic year, the university anounced in a release Thursday.

“I have deeply appreciated the opportunity to serve as the director of athletics for USF," Pope said in the release. "(My wife) Julie and I are grateful to have been a part of this very special place. This is a personal decision, based upon what we want to do with our lives going forward.”

Pope led the USF athletic department as it won two NAIA national championships and one Mid-Central College Conference (MCC) tournament championship in the same semester. Under his tenure, USF experienced its best student-athlete GPA (3.14 of a possible 4.0 and seven semesters at 3.0 or higher), renovation and expansion of the Hutzell Athletic Center and D’Arcy Stadium.

“Mark was wholeheartedly committed to student success and no one at the university was more positive and encouraging to the students, or prouder of their achievements. Every year under Mark’s leadership, USF was designated as a Champions of Character 5-Star Institution by the NAIA. A remarkable achievement,” Provost, Dr. Rolf Daniel said ion the release.

Pope was named the MCC’s Athletic Director of the Year in 2008-09, and serves as Chair of the MCC Athletic Directors’ Council, member of the NAIA National Administrative Council, Chair of the Championship Competition Subcommittee, and member of the NAIA Conduct and Ethics Committee.

Said Pope: “we are looking forward to spending more time together with our children and grandchildren, our extended families and our friends. We are also looking forward to pursuing other business ventures. This decision will allow us to remain involved in our community in many different ways.”

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