After nearly 10 years as the UW-Eau Claire athletic director, Scott Kilgallon has decided to seek retirement from the university.

He announced Tuesday that he will be stepping down permanently, effective June 30, in lieu of being considered for athletic director positions elsewhere.

Since he began working for the Blugolds in 2004, the department has seen major improvements not just athletically but academically as well.

Eau Claire’s standing in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup competition went from sixty-eighth place in 2004 to fourteenth last year. This competition awards points based on each university’s qualification for advancement in NCAA championships and includes more than 440 Division III programs.

With that, three Blugold teams have won NCAA titles during Kilgallon’s time here. Men’s hockey took home a trophy last year, women’s cross country did it in 2009 and softball in 2008. He helped take home five other NAIA national titles as well.

Eau Claire has hosted four national championships, nine regional championships, 17 WIAC championships and various other postseason bouts.

He contributed to a universal 27 conference championships as well.

The Blugolds also have taken home 31 WIAC Coach of the Year awards during Kilgallon’s 10 years here.

Academically speaking, numerous student-athletes acheived a 3.0 Grade Point Average. Their best year was the 2009-2010 season with an average GPA of 3.16

This development lead to 20 Capital One Academic All-American honors, bringing Eau Claire’s number to 54 overall. Blugolds racked up 34 WIAC and 229 All-American student-athlete honors over this time also.

The Blugolds also received the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators/Jostens Community Service Award four different times over the past 10 years. Eau Claire has received this award five times since it began in 1995 and is given to universities who have student-athletes participate in community outreach projects.

Kilgallon also served on several different teams in charge of finding  ways to improve athletic facilities UW-Eau Claire shares. This includes the Hobbs Ice Center renovation that took place last year.