Rick George’s 13-year run in charge of Colorado athletics is coming to an end.

The Buffaloes’ athletic director said Thursday he will step down and transition to a new role as a special advisor to the chancellor and AD emeritus.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Athletic Director for the University of Colorado for the last 13 years, but after considerable thought and discussions with my family dating back to last spring, I have decided it is time for new leadership to guide the department,” George said in a release. “I wanted to make this announcement now in order to give Chancellor Schwartz plenty of time to find the right person for Colorado, and I look forward to doing everything I can to ensure a smooth transition. I also wanted to time my announcement so that I could support Coach Prime and our football team this season, which I’m looking forward to continuing in my new role.”

Hired as the university’s sixth full-time athletic director in July 2013, George has overseen plenty of change in Boulder.

His most consequential decision was the hiring of Deion Sanders to lead the football program following a 1-11 season in 2022.

The Buffs have had a renaissance on the football field as one of the most-watched programs in the country and national attention headlined by last year’s nine-win season and Travis Hunter’s Heisman Trophy win.

George was named “Athletic Director of the Year” for the 2023-24 academic year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Since he arrived at CU, Coach Prime has credited George as being the reason he was willing to take on the challenge of rebuilding the Buffs, and the two have a strong working and personal relationship.

In July 2023, George also executed a move back to the Big 12 at a time of uncertainty in the Pac-12, being the first of the “four corners” schools to leave for the Big 12.

George also led the project that created the UCHealth Champions Center attached to Folsom Field, with George leading a fundraising effort that raised over $100 million for the completion of the project.

During his time at CU, George also served as a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee.

“Rick’s contributions to our university in his 13 years as head of our athletic department have been incalculable,” chancellor Justin Schwartz said. “He is a nationally respected leader who has always kept CU at the forefront of the dynamic and highly competitive landscape of college athletics. I am grateful for his leadership and am elated he has decided to stay on as a Special Advisor and AD Emeritus.”  

George’s history with CU well predates his 13 years as athletic director, however. He first arrived at the university in 1987 when he was hired by Hall of Fame coach Bill McCartney to be the program’s recruiting coordinator and was a part of the Buffs’ only national championship in 1990.

He left CU in 1991 to become the assistant AD for external operations at Vanderbilt before eventually joining the PGA Tour as executive vice president and chief of operations.

Prior to returning to CU, George was the COO of MLB’s Texas Rangers, where he was a part of two American League pennant-winning teams.

George’s decision to step down is not seen as an indication Coach Prime also plans to leave CU, as George’s new role will continue to allow him to work closely with the football program and assist with “revenue-generating initiatives for the department during a time when revenue generation is vital for success.”

No timeline has been given for the hiring of a new athletic director.