The resignation of Stanford’s athletic director Bernard Muir, announced on Tuesday after 13 years of service, marks a significant turning point for the university’s sports programs. The decision comes amid growing concerns over the decline in performance and relevance of key teams like men’s basketball and football. Muir’s tenure has been marked by missed opportunities and strategic missteps, particularly in handling leadership changes and adapting to the evolving landscape of college athletics. This transition reflects broader shifts within the university administration, with new leadership aiming to revitalize the athletic department and address the challenges posed by modern college sports.

Muir’s departure follows a series of critical changes at Stanford. Since the arrival of a new university president last August, there have been increasing calls for reform across the athletic department. The appointment of a football general manager in November further signaled a shift in priorities. It became clear that prolonged underperformance was leading to irrelevance, a situation considered worse than the sacrifices needed to achieve success. One of the most glaring issues during Muir’s tenure was the management of the men’s basketball program. His delayed actions in addressing coaching changes led to a decade-long struggle, exemplified by three consecutive poor hiring decisions. While the recent appointment of Kyle Smith offers hope, the challenges facing the team today are more complex than ever before.

In contrast, Muir’s role in the football program’s decline is less direct. Under David Shaw, signs of slippage were evident in the late 2010s, but Muir lacked the authority to implement changes against the head coach’s will. By the time it became apparent that reforms were necessary, external factors such as Name, Image, and Likelihood (NIL) regulations and the transfer portal had already transformed the sport. These changes left Stanford ill-equipped to compete, resulting in four consecutive low-win seasons. Ultimately, responsibility for the football program’s struggles lies with former university leaders who failed to recognize the importance of football to the broader athletic department and campus culture.

Muir’s departure coincides with broader administrative changes at Stanford. Former provost Persis Drell and president Marc Tessier-Lavigne left their positions, paving the way for Jonathan Levin to take charge. Levin, who attended Stanford during its football renaissance under Bill Walsh, has shown a renewed interest in the sport. His appointment of Andrew Luck as general manager, reporting directly to him, underscores a shift in approach. This move indicates that the new administration is ready to embrace the evolving landscape of college athletics, signaling a fresh start for Stanford’s sports programs.

The challenges faced by Stanford’s athletic department reflect larger trends in college sports. Institutions like Duke and Vanderbilt have managed to balance academic excellence with competitive football programs without compromising their reputations. As Stanford prepares to navigate the revenue-sharing era, the cost of maintaining a losing and irrelevant football program far outweighs the benefits of avoiding perceived risks. Muir’s resignation, therefore, represents not just an end to his tenure but also the beginning of a new chapter in Stanford’s approach to athletics, driven by a leadership that recognizes the importance of staying competitive in the modern era.