Randy Spetman has left his position as Florida State's athletic director and will serve out the rest of his contract as a special advisor to the department, the school announced on Wednesday.
Said school president Eric Barron in a statement released by Florida State:
"I am pleased that through mutual agreement, Randy will continue to advance the Athletics Department’s Strategic Plan by working with a full range of stakeholders to gather additional information that will help shape the future of Florida State athletics."
Spetman took over for Dave Hart in 2008 and was previously the athletic director at Utah State and Air Force. His contract with FSU runs through February 2014.
FSU will soon conduct a national search for Spetman's replacement. Meanwhile, senior associate athletic director Vanessa Fuchs has been named the interim athletic director.
The perception in Seminole land was that Spetman was in over his head in his role as athletic director. He received a contract extension of only one year with no raise in August 2012 -- hardly a vote of confidence from the school. He was also criticized for his handling of conference alignment issues and Bobby Bowden's forced retirement. So his stepping down as athletic director might have been a move that was a long time coming.
