After 20 years as Quinnipiac Athletics and Recreation Director, Jack McDonald’s tenure at the university will come to a close in June 2015. Quinnipiac Vice President and Provost Mark Thompson announced McDonald’s retirement on Wednesday.

“Jack represents the very best of what makes Quinnipiac special: building community through a complete commitment to our student athletes and their families,” Thompson said. “Jack has steered Quinnipiac athletics through unparalleled growth during his 20 years.”

McDonald brought sweeping changes as head of Quinnipiac’s athletic programs. He was hired in 1995, and oversaw the university’s move from Division II to Division I three years later. Quinnipiac has won 28 conference championships since, and the men’s ice hockey team came closest to a national title, advancing to the 2013 NCAA Division I National Championship Game.

During his tenure, McDonald contributed to the university’s $360 million York Hill Campus project by developing the $52 million TD Bank Sports Center – now home to all men’s and women’s basketball and ice hockey games. McDonald also was instrumental in bringing the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey National Championship to the TD Bank Sports Center.

“I cannot be more grateful to John Lahey, Manny Carreiro, Mark Thompson and my entire Athletics & Recreation staff for 20 years of incredible growth, success in athletics, outstanding academic achievement and, most of all, friendship and happiness,” McDonald said in a Quinnipiac Athletics press release. “Quinnipiac will continue to be very successful and I feel very, very fortunate to be a part of the best athletic department in the country.”