Michigan State AD Mark Hollis Announces Retirement
EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 29: A Michigan State helmet sits on the sideline during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Spartan Stadium on September 29, 2012 in East Lansing, Michigan. Ohio State won the game 17-16. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Getty
Mark Hollis, Michigan State's athletic director, just announced that he is retiring after a decade on the job.
Mark Hollis is a Michigan State alumnus. He took over as Spartans athletic director in 2008.
This news obviously comes at a very precarious time for Michigan State. The school has been at the center of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal.
Nassar, a former doctor with Michigan State athletics, was just sentenced to 40-175 years in prison. He has been accused of sexual abuse by over 160 women, including Michigan State athletes.
Nassar worked with the MSU softball and cross country teams. He is most famous for his work with the U.S. Gymnastics team, and has been accused of sexual assault by many of the most notable American Olympians in recent years.
On Thursday, school president Lou Anna K. Simon announced her resignation. She had reportedly been informed of Nassar's conduct as early as 2014, a claim she denies.
Now Hollis, one of college athletics' most respected athletic directors, is also out. He just made the announcement, which has taken many in the industry by shock.
He just held a press conference to announce the news. Apparently it was an emotional event.
Hollis denies being privy to the 2014 investigation into Nassar. He also says he doesn't believe he ever met Nassar.
Hollis will end his Michigan State tenure on Wednesday. It is not yet known who will take over as interim athletic director.
The scope of the Larry Nassar scandal makes it one of the most heinous in the history of sports. It seems unlikely that Simon and Hollis will be the only higher-ups in East Lansing to step down as a result. We should be seeing similar developments with U.S. Gymnastics as well.
