ACC commissioner Swofford to retire in June 2021

ACC commissioner John Swofford will retire in June 2021 after more than two decades in the role, he announced Thursday.

In 1997, Swofford became just the fourth commissioner in ACC history. He helped the league navigate multiple realignments and lured Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville, and Notre Dame - except for its football - to the conference within the past decade. He expanded the ACC to 12 schools in 2004/2005 by landing Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College.

Swofford, 71, also spearheaded the launch of the ACC Network, albeit through a treacherous process.

Prior to becoming commissioner, Swofford was the athletic director at North Carolina.

"It has been a privilege to be a part of the ACC for over five decades and my respect and appreciation for those associated with the league throughout its history is immeasurable," he said. "Having been an ACC student-athlete, athletics director and commissioner has been an absolute honor. There are immediate challenges that face not only college athletics, but our entire country, and I will continue to do my very best to help guide the conference in these unprecedented times through the remainder of my tenure. Nora and I have been planning for this to be my last year for some time and I look forward to enjoying the remarkable friendships and memories I’ve been blessed with long after I leave this chair."

The ACC is reportedly expected to consider Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, Atlantic 10 commissioner Bernadette McGlade, and South Florida athletic director Michael Kelly in the search for a replacement.