No Photo Credit Jim Schaus

Schaus was hired by former President Roderick McDavis on April 7, 2008.

“It has been an amazing 11 years as athletic director at Ohio,” Schaus said in a press release. “We have accomplished much and had a lot of fun doing it thanks to a great team of people on and off our campus who are committed to Ohio University.”

Amy Dean was named the interim director of athletics effective July 1. Dean was named deputy athletic director in 2016 and began working at Ohio University in 1998.

“Amy has provided strong leadership to Ohio athletics throughout her tenure with the university,” Ohio President M. Duane Nellis said in a release. “She has played a pivotal role related to developing policy and recruiting staff, and I greatly appreciate her partnership and guidance through this transition.”

The university is expected to begin a national search for the next athletic director in the coming weeks.

Schaus’ tenure at Ohio included success in a variety of sports, highlighted by the men’s basketball team reaching the Sweet 16 in 2012 two years after it won in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, all under John Groce.

Shaus hired veteran coach Jim Christian as Groce’s replacement, and Ohio won the MAC regular season title in his second season before he left and was replaced by Saul Phillips. One of Shaus’ final major moves as AD was hiring Jeff Boals in March to replace Phillips after he was let go with a year left on his contract.

The Bobcats have had consistent success as a yearly bowl team in football under Frank Solich – though Solich was already at Ohio when Schaus arrived – but is still seeking their first Mid-American Conference championship since 1968. The women’s basketball team is coming off a record-setting 30 wins this past season under Bob Bolden, and Ohio baseball and softball each have won a pair of MAC championships since 2014.

Schaus inherited an athletic department deficit when he began his term but has been able to balance the budget in the last 10 years despite less university subsidies. Ohio has set all-time revenue records in ticket sales and remains among the MAC’s best in ticket sales. Schaus helped created the Ohio Bobcat Club to replace the Green & White Club, and it has seen its unrestricted donations nearly double.

He also has overseen a pair of huge athletic projects, first and foremost the building of the Walter Fieldhouse indoor practice facility. The Sook Academic Center also opened this past fall at Peden Stadium.

Ohio has remained free from major NCAA violations.

“It is time to begin a new and exciting chapter in my career as the commissioner for the Southern Conference,” Schaus said. “I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of those who have supported Ohio athletics and Priscilla and I over the years. I am very thankful to President emeritus McDavis and President Nellis as two outstanding presidents that I have served during my time in Athens. Ohio University and Athens will always have a special place in our hearts. And, as you know, it's always a great day to be a Bobcat!"

Southern Conference commissioner John Iamarino announced in March he planned to retire June 30.

Before coming to Ohio University, Schaus served as director of athletics at Wichita State University from 1998 to 2008. He has a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree from West Virginia University.

He replaced Kirby Hocutt as Ohio athletic director after Hocutt left to become the athletic director at the University of Miami.