Missouri athletic director Mike Alden announced Thursday that he is stepping down from his position effective Aug. 31, ending an incredible stretch of success as the leader of the Tigers’ athletic department for more than a decade:

“After several months of contemplation, I have decided that it is time for a change, both for me and for the University that I so dearly love,” Alden said in a prepared statement. “I have informed Chancellor Loftin of my decision to step down as the Director of Athletics effective August 31, 2015. My wife, Rockie, our son, Jake, and I have had an incredible experience at Mizzou and this is simply our next step in our journey in Columbia. We are proud of what we have accomplished over the past seventeen years, which is a lifetime for an athletics administrator. I am most proud of our tremendous coaches, staff and student-athletes and how they represent our University with academic integrity, social responsibility and competitive excellence.”

Alden served as the university’s athletic director for the second-longest tenure in school history, behind only Dan Faurot (1935-42; 1946-66). He was instrumental in the Tigers’ merge to the SEC in 2012 and since, Missouri has won two Eastern Division championships.

Mizzou chancellor Bowen Loftin has released a statement on Alden’s departure:

“Over seventeen years of service to the University of Missouri, Mike has transformed our athletics program into one of the nation’s best, with world-class student-athletes, coaches, staff, facilities, affiliations and financial resources. He led our institution’s move to the Southeastern Conference and has been at the helm as our teams won multiple championships over the years. Though I am saddened that Mike will no longer be a member of our leadership team and leading our Department of Athletics, I am truly happy for him and Rockie as he embarks on a new challenge here at Mizzou. Mike will always be a part of our family. We have already begun a national search for Mike’s successor and I am confident we will find a tremendous leader to carry us forward.”