SLIPPERY ROCK — His departure date was planned in advance.

That doesn't make its arrival any easier for Slippery Rock University athletic director Paul Lueken.

Lueken, who turns 60 Dec. 10, will officially retire Jan. 1 after 26 years on the job. SRU had six different presidents and Rock athletic teams won 39 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships during his tenure there.

Eleven different teams won those titles. SRU also had 69 student-athletes named to PSAC Top 10 teams since Lueken's arrival in 1994. Only Shippensburg (71) has had more.

“There's a lot to be proud of here,” Lueken said. “The academic success our student-athletes have had is probably No. 1 on my list. Watching so many of them go on to successful careers outside of sports, and the ones who have turned pro in athletics, has been very rewarding to me.

“I've enjoyed seeing how competitive our student-athletes have been. The increase in scholarship money for our coaches to be able to recruit quality people and win championships has been rewarding as well.”

SRU's total athletic scholarship fund was $300,000 when Lueken was hired in 1994. That fund stands at $1.1 million now.

Numerous head coaches — George Mihalik in football, John Papa in track and field, Jeff Messer in baseball, Matt Meredith in tennis among them — stayed at The Rock for numerous years under Lueken's guidance.

“Paul wasn't a clock watcher,” retired SRU football coach George Mihalik said. “He respected the hours you worked and you had total freedom that way. That's rare in college athletics.

“He's always been a family-first guy. Family takes first priority. If it's something involving family, you go to it. I always loved that about him.”

Current SRU president William Behre said in a prepared statement: “Paul did a great job of not micromanaging while at the same time having his finger on the pulse of the department. He wasn't nearly as concerned about why you were running a particular scheme as he was about making sure you knew the recruiting rules.

“His leadership and direction have provided a stable and clarifying vision for our programs that have resulted in both academic and athletic excellence.”

Mihalik recalled inviting Lueken to his home shortly after the latter was hired as athletic director.

“We were on my back patio talking. Paul said he'd stay here maybe three years and move on in his career,” Mihalik said. “I told him this place had a habit of growing on people.”

Lueken laughed when that conversation was brought up.

“George reminds me of that all the time,” he said. “But he's right. It's the people here ... the town, the university, Butler County and the surrounding area.

“I'm from a small town, Marshall, Ill. I'm from the Midwest and Western Pennsylvania has always had a Midwestern feel for me.”

Lueken's first wife, Ann, died of cancer in 2010.

“This community got me through that,” he said. “I will never forget that.”

Though he is retiring, Lueken will continue to live in Slippery Rock. He plans to remain active with the PSAC and represent the conference at various championship events. He will also remain a member of the Division II Football Committee.

“One thing I didn't want to do is leave in the middle of this COVID-19 thing,” Lueken said. “I thought about extending (retirement date), but who knows what lies ahead?

“When we do resume athletics, there's going to be plenty of PSAC Championship events happening at around the same time. I'm glad to be able to assist with those.”

During Lueken's tenure at SRU, the grade point average of Rock student athletes rose from 2.614 his first semester on campus to 3.532 in the spring of 2020.

SRU won the Dixon Trophy — presented to the top overall athletic department in the PSAC — in 2007-08. The school had never won that award previously.

“I'm particularly proud of that one,” Lueken said.

He also oversaw the creation of field hockey and lacrosse locker rooms, training room and offices at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium, women's softball and soccer locker rooms and offices at the SRU Softball Complex, along with artificial turf for the football, baseball and soccer facilities.

“My biggest regret will be not working a game on that new baseball field,” Lueken said.

“We are 100% Title IX compliant now and not a lot of places can say that,” SRU sports information director Jon Holtz said. “Paul has led this athletic department through numerous change and adjustment. We always came out the better for it on the other end.”

Joanne Leight will serve as interim athletic director from January through the end of the academic year. A national search will be held for Lueken's permanent successor.

“The target time for a hire is the summer of 2021,” Holtz said. “Before fall sports begin in 2021, the athletic director will be on board.”

And Lueken will be there to aid in the transition.

“I will be more than happy to do whatever the university, new A.D. or the coaches need,” he said. “I'm still going to be around.”