Bob Stull is Retiring After 18 Years as AD [VIDEO]

UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull announced that he will retire after holding the position for the past 18 years.  Stull, who has been the AD at UTEP since 1998, decided that he wanted to spend more time with his kids and grandchildren, who live in Missouri; therefore at age 71, has determined that he is ready to call it a career.  Bob will stay on as athletic director until his successor is hired.

Stull coached UTEP from 1986-1988, leading the Miners to winning seasons two of his three years at the helm and most notably taking them to the Independence Bowl in 1988, which also included a 10 win season; their only one in program history.  As the AD at UTEP Stull's accomplishments have been exceptional and have solidified his legacy with the program.  During Stull's tenure UTEP's athletic teams have combined to win a total of 29 conference titles in seven different sports.

He created the Miner Athletic Center, the Larry K. Durham Center, Helen of Troy softball complex and Foster-Stevens Center.  These facilities have help transform the university in to the place that it has become today, and were incredible additions to the unique campus.  Stull created a culture at UTEP that helped generate a positive environment for fans, athletes and coaches.

Bob Stull hired numerous coaches throughout his tenure as AD, most notably Mike Price, Tim Floyd, Keitha Adams and Sean Kugler.  In doing so, he brought various high profile names to the university, which has in turn added national exposure for UTEP and made it more reputable.  Mike Price led the program to its first AP top 25 ranking in school history, to go along with three bowl game appearances and Keitha Adams transformed UTEP Women's basketball into a national powerhouse, and built the program from the ground up.

Thus far Sean Kugler has led the program to one bowl game appearance as well.  Over the past several years Stull has received some harsh criticism from numerous fans for some of the changes that were made that affected football tailgating and even for some of his decisions in terms of keeping certain coaches at UTEP.

I feel that he has done an exceptional job these past 18 years and that the university would not be where it is today without his influence.  People will always find things to complain about, it is human nature, I've always said, if you give some one a million dollars in a maroon briefcase, they will ask why you chose that color of briefcase to gift the money in.  Point is, people are never truly satisfied.

The fact remains that we have been rather fortunate to have Stull here for so long, and his accomplishments as athletic director have left a lasting legacy at UTEP.  Rather than look at what hasn't necessarily been accomplished, let's look at what has been done over the past 18 years.  Good luck to Bob in the future, and thank you for every thing that you've done for our university.