Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw resigns

Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw has resigned.

Hours after confirming the hiring of Jim Grobe as acting head football coach, Baylor announced that McCaw has decided to leave the university.

“After much reflection and prayer, I have decided that a change in athletics department leadership is in Baylor University’s best interest in order to promote the unity, healing and restoration that must occur in order to move forward,” McCaw said in a statement.

“I have always sought to put the University’s needs ahead of my own. My time at Baylor has been an incredible journey filled with some of the most remarkable people I have ever known. I am grateful to Baylor Nation for its support and dedication, and to all who have done so much to advance the athletics program.”

Baylor also released a statement from its Board of Regents:

“We understand and accept this difficult decision by Ian McCaw to resign as athletic director and are grateful for his service to Baylor University. We also appreciate Ian’s commitment and involvement in bringing a person of integrity such as Jim Grobe to the university before making this decision.”

McCaw was sanctioned and placed on probation last Thursday in the aftermath of law firm Pepper Hamilton’s independent investigation into the school’s – and athletic department’s – handling of several sexual assault accusations in recent years. At the time, the school said McCaw would work with the Board of Regents to “implement the (Pepper Hamilton) recommendations as they relate to the restoration of a tone of accountability within the football program, to effective oversight and controls of the athletics department, and to critically needed changes that will re-align the athletics program with the university mission.”

Ken Starr had his title of Baylor president stripped last Thursday, but will remain in a chancellor role.

McCaw played a role in the hiring of Grobe to replace the fired Art Briles, but opted to resign once Grobe was officially brought on board.

“Jim Grobe is the right leader at this time to move Baylor University and the football program forward,” McCaw said in a statement earlier on Monday.

McCaw was hired by the university in 2003. He hired Briles in 2008 and helped the Bears achieve new levels of success – in football and other sports. McCaw also oversaw the construction of McLane Stadium and several other new athletics facilities on campus.

Before his time at Baylor, McCaw was the athletic director at Massachusetts and Northeastern. He also worked in intercollegiate athletics at Tulane and Maine.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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