Moore stepping down as UA AD

TUSCALOOSA | Mal Moore has stepped down as athletics director at the University of Alabama.

Moore, who has been hospitalized since March 11 with a pulmonary condition, will become a special assistant to UA President Judy Bonner. Moore was originally admitted to Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham, but was later transported to Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Last Friday, UA sent out a press release that said Moore was "resting comfortably" and undergoing tests at the North Carolina hospital, but the school has not released any information on his condition since.

"As many of you may know, due to factors related to my health, I am at a point that I can no longer fulfill my duties as athletics director in the true championship manner the position requires," Moore said in a statement released by UA. "While I have to focus on my health issue, I look forward to maintaining an ongoing working relationship with this great university as special assistant to Dr. Bonner. I know I can count on each of you to continue your unequaled support for me and the University of Alabama.

"I cannot adequately express what the university means to me. It has been a part of my life for more than 50 years, and I feel honored to have served the Crimson Tide as a player, coach and administrator. I am so appreciative of the university administration, coaches, staff, student-athletes and fans who have made my tenure as director so very meaningful, memorable and special."

Moore, 73, played footblal at Alabama under the late Paul. W. "Bear" Bryant, and later served as a longtime assistant coach under Bryant. He become UA's director of atheltics in 1999. In all, Moore has earned 10 football national championship rings as a player, coach and administrator.

"Mal Moore is Crimson Tide sports," Bonner said in a release. "During his tenure as athletics director, our student athletes have experienced unprecedented success in every aspect of their careers at UA, on the field of play and in the classroom. His contributions to UA athletics on every level are unsurpassed. And, while he will no longer be in charge of day-to-day operations, I am so pleased that we will continue to be able to rely on his wisdom and expertise going forward."

UA said it plans to find a new athletics director "as quickly as possible."

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