Breaking News: Sources Reveal Stanford Athletic Director Bernard Muir Poised to Resign

By Stewart Mandel, Ralph D. Russo, Matt Baker, and Lauren Merola

Stanford’s athletic director, Bernard Muir, is set to resign after 13 years with the university, according to sources close to the situation.

Muir, who is 56, oversaw significant changes in Stanford athletics. Under his leadership, the football program transitioned from David Shaw to Troy Taylor in 2022. He also welcomed Andrew Luck in 2024 to take on a more active role in management.

During Muir’s time, Stanford maintained a strong athletic program. The Cardinal secured the Learfield Directors Cup — awarded to the top athletic department in the nation — eight times and finished as a runner-up in other years. Overall, the school celebrated 33 NCAA championships since Muir’s appointment in 2012.

However, the past few seasons have been challenging for Stanford sports. The football team, which had previously reached three Rose Bowls in the early 2010s, has struggled with a 3-9 record for four consecutive seasons. The men’s basketball team hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2014. The women’s basketball program, a powerhouse that won a national title in 2021, is likely to miss the tournament this year, facing uncertainty after the retirement of legendary coach Tara VanDerveer.

Stanford’s rigorous admissions standards have made it tough for some teams to adapt to changes like the transfer portal. The university was also hesitant with NIL deals at first. Notably, stars like Lauren Betts and Kiki Iriafen left for other schools as Stanford couldn’t keep up with lucrative offers, like the $1 million deal that softball player NiJaree Canady received from Texas Tech.

Muir acknowledged last summer that the school took a cautious approach to NIL, focusing on equitable practices. One of his key achievements was navigating the recent upheaval caused by conference realignment. After the collapse of the Pac-12 in 2023, Muir facilitated Stanford’s move to the ACC, effective from the 2024-25 academic year.

In this new arrangement, Stanford will start with a 30% revenue share for the first seven years, gradually increasing to 100% by the tenth year. Muir emphasized that student-athlete input was crucial, stating that they wanted to remain competitive despite travel challenges. He expressed confidence in balancing travel demands with academic commitments.

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Stanford Cardinal, College Football, College Sports