ACC commissioner John Swofford will retire after the 2020-21 season, the conference announced Thursday.
Swofford, 71, will have served 24 years leading the ACC, the longest-tenured commissioner in league history.
“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,” Swofford said in a statement. “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.
“[Swofford’s wife] 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.”
Athletic directors were told about the decision Thursday morning before the ACC made the announcement public.
Swofford played quarterback and defensive back for North Carolina, winning an ACC title with the Tar Heels in 1971. He served as the school’s athletic director for 17 years starting in 1980.
He also worked for Virginia as his first job in college athletics.