MORGANTOWN — His accomplishments are numerous.

And in so doing, West Virginia University Athletic Director Ed Pastilong has opened the door to what WVU President James P. Clements called “the perfect time” to make the transition into the next decade of Mountaineer athletics with a new athletic director.

The university announced Wednesday it will launch a national search for a director of athletics to succeed Pastilong.

“With the university’s strategic plan initiative under way, this is an ideal time to find the person who will both participate in the planning process and lead our athletic department through the next decade,” Clements said. “We’re poised to enter the next chapter in WVU’s athletic history.”

Pastilong, 67, announced nearly two years ago that he would retire when his contract expires June 30 of this year.

He will remain as athletic director emeritus, where he will advise, among others, Clements.

“I want to thank Ed for all his many contributions over the years,” Clements said. “On so many fronts — from initiating major new facilities and capital projects to more than doubling the athletic department budget and making sure our student-athletes are successful on and off the field — this department is strong and poised for the future.

“Ed has spent a lifetime helping to build this department to where it is today and I cannot imagine the next years without him as a continuing part of the team.’’

Pastilong, a former WVU football player, has spent over 30 years working for the WVU athletic department, 23 as the athletic director. He has been with WVU since 1976.

“Our teams have had great success on the field, on the court and in the classroom,” Pastilong said. “We have had outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff who have each worked with the common goal of making WVU successful. And we have succeeded while operating our programs financially self-supporting.”

He said he understands the timing of the move.

“There comes a time in a career when you have to make a transition, and that time is now. With the long-term strategic vision of the entire university under way, it’s the right time to let a new athletic director play a key role in the future of intercollegiate athletics at WVU.

“And there is no doubt I will remain close to my Mountaineer athletic family because this is where my heart is.”

Pastilong’s accomplishments are numerous.

n He was front man for more than $85 million in facility renovations, many of those at Milan Puskar Stadium.

n He saw the athletic department budget grow from $20 million to $59 million.

n He hired replacements for longtime coaches Don Nehlen (with Rich Rodriguez and then Bill Stewart) and Gale Catlett (with John Beilein and then Bob Huggins). Both those programs have not only continued to grow but have prospered into what some are calling the new “golden age” of Mountaineer athletics.

n He oversaw the Mountaineers’ move into the Big East in 1991 and as the full member in 1995.

Pastilong had said in a January interview with The Register-Herald that he would be willing to stay on through 2012.

Clements said if a successor is not named by June 30, Pastilong is willing to stay on until one is named.

“Ed and I have had several talks and he has said that he wants to do whatever it takes to help (the university),” Clements said. “I don’t know what the timetable will be, but I do know we have a good guy in place.”

Clements said he does not have any applicants currently.

And he said outside pressure from influential alumni played no part in the decision.

“In terms of outside influence, it was a decision I made solely on my own,” Clements said. “Ed has done a great job. People will always find ways to get in their two cents. I have heard it all, such as what defense we should be running.”

Clements said the current state of the athletic department should attract a strong field of candidates.

— E-mail: demorrison@register-herald.com