Maturi steps down as Gophers' athletic director

MINNEAPOLIS Joel Maturi is stepping down as the University of Minnesota's director of athletics, the school announced Thursday. Maturi will retire when his contract ends June 30. "It's been a great 10 years," Maturi said Thursday. "It's been a wonderful journey." Maturi, who will turn 67 next week, has spent the past decade as Minnesota's AD, taking over the job July 12, 2002. Since then, his career has been an interesting one, to say the least. With Maturi at the helm the Gophers won four national titles men's hockey in 2003, women's hockey in 2004-05 and wrestling in 2007. But the current state of Gophers athletics is a much different story. The football team has posted consecutive three-win seasons. The men's basketball team missed out on the postseason last year when it lost 10 of its 11 games to close out the season. The men's hockey team appears to have returned to relevance this season but has missed the NCAA tournament the past three years. Maturi will also likely be remembered for several coaching hires and dismissals in some of the school's revenue sports. Glen Mason was fired after a 6-7 season and a bowl game appearance in 2006. Maturi then hired little-known Tim Brewster, who had no head coaching experience. Brewster lasted less than four year, finishing with just one winning season from 2007-10. Current coach Jerry Kill was hired by Maturi to replace Brewster. Maturi was able to land a high-profile name as the Gophers' men's basketball coach when he hired Tubby Smith prior to the 2007-08 season. Smith led Kentucky to the national championship in 1998, but his teams at Minnesota have made the NCAA Tournament just twice in his first four seasons. The Gophers are currently 16-7 and 4-6 in the Big Ten after a loss to Iowa on Wednesday. University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler said Thursday that Maturi will remain at the university following the end of his contract. He'll assist with course development,teach classes and help with fundraising. Kaler said the search for a new athletic director will begin "as soon as possible" and added that the school will use a search firm. Kaler is confident Minnesota will have a new AD in place by July 1, the day after Maturi's contract expires. Follow Tyler Mason on Twitter.