LEE COUNTY, Fla. — FGCU announced Ken Kavanagh, Director of Athletics, is moving on from the university Friday.

The change comes abruptly as Kavanagh announced in November his plans to retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

ABC7 spoke with former FGCU President Mike Martin for more insight on the situation. Martin said he created a task force in February made up of off-campus experts, boosters, and on-campus workers, who were tasked with finding ways that FGCU could stay competitive in the ever-changing world of college athletics. He said the rise in NIL, the transfer portal, and laws prohibiting FGCU from using state money for athletics, put the Eagles behind some of their competition.

One of the task force’s findings was that FGCU was facing long-term financial struggles. A recommendation they had was to blend the athletic department into the larger university to create a workforce that could help on all ends of the school.

Martin said Kavanagh was not entirely comfortable with that change. He said Kavanagh was more of a traditional leader and found it difficult to adjust to decisions being made outside of his athletic department.

Martin praised Kavanagh for his work at FGCU over the years and said he held Ken in high regard. Martin made it a point to say that Kavanagh always wanted what was best for the students and the university.

Martin said from his point of view, there was no ill will or animosity between Kavanagh and the university. However, he did say there was some tension during the change, which Martin said happens a lot in business when things are different.

When we reached out to Kavanagh for comment, he said to ABC7’s Jaron May, “appreciate your note and friendship… God Bless.”

FGCU President Aysegul Timur issued a statement to the university Friday that daily operations responsibilities in athletics will continue to be handled by Lauren Leister, Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer, and Graham Diemer, Deputy Athletics Director Competitive Success and Chief Revenue Officer.

FGCU still plans to launch a national search for the Director of Athletics position and will announce more information in 2024.

ABC7 is still working on finding out the specifics of the task force’s recommendations and getting more information about the abrupt move.