Murray State president Bob Davies announced Friday that long-time Murray State athletic director Allen Ward has resigned from his post.

“It’s been an honor to serve as Director of Athletics at Murray State,” Ward said in a statement. “I’m humbled by the success we’ve achieved and all we’ve been able to accomplish together as a team for the past 13 years. Racer Nation will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Ward has been at the helm of Murray State athletics since he was introduced in 2005. Since joining Racer Nation in 2005, Murray State has had unprecedented success on and off the field.

The Racers have won 39 OVC championships and played in the NCAA championships 29 times. Murray State is coming off of an impressive year, having sent men’s basketball, women’s golf, soccer, and rifle to the NCAA postseason this past season.

During his tenure at Murray State, Ward stressed the phrase, “four years, two goals,” within the Racer athletic department.

“We have always strived for every student-athlete to leave Murray State with a diploma in one hand and a championship ring on the other,” Ward said.

Ward helped do just that while in charge. The Racers Academic Progress Rate score went from 911 to 986, on top of the 20 consecutive seasons in which the cumulative GPA of student athletes was over 3.0.

Ward has also played a major hand in upgrading the facilities within Murray State athletics. He introduced the Gene Ray Center for Murray State basketball, the Burton Family Hall of Champions and Racer Field, while adding improvements to Reagan Field, Cutchin Field (soccer) and adding state-of-the-art HD video scoreboards in the CFSB Center and Roy Stewart Stadium.

“I want to thank Allen for his outstanding leadership of our athletics program,” Davies said. “He has instilled in our student-athletes a desire to succeed in all aspects of life, but most importantly in the classroom. I sincerely appreciate his service to Murray State University and I wish him all the success in his next venture. I will miss his professionalism and his friendship.”

After July 27, Murray State women’s golf head coach Velvet Milkman will step in as interim AD while the search for the position to be filled is conducted.

“I am grateful that Ms. Velvet Milkman has agreed to serve as the interim director of athletics during this time of transition,” Davies said.  “She is a proven and natural leader who has tremendous respect throughout the University, our community and our athletic conference. She was the natural and obvious choice to serve in this leadership role as we conduct a national search.”