USF AD Woolard Out After Next Year As Sources Point To Downturn In Hoops, Football

USF on Thursday said that AD Doug Woolard "will retire when his current contract expires" in June '15, but that he will "continue work on several projects" thereafter, according to Joey Knight of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. A "national search for a successor starts immediately." Woolard's tenure will be "remembered for its renovation and expansion of athletic facilities, but also for declining performance and attendance in football and a drop in stature in conference affiliation" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/17). ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy cited sources as saying that Woolard will "remain at the school in an unspecified role until his contract expires." Sources said the school decided to replace Woolard because of "wide-ranging dissatisfaction" with the football and men's basketball programs. Woolard came to USF in '04 after 10 years at St. Louis Univ., and in '12 "signed a three-year extension with USF that pays him more than $700,000 a year" (ESPN.com, 1/16).