Quinnipiac Director of Athletics and Recreation Jack McDonald will retire on June 30, 2015, Quinnipiac Executive Vice President and Provost Mark Thompson announced Wednesday.

McDonald has served as Quinnipiac’s athletic director for 20 years, guiding the university from a NCAA Division II program to NCAA Division I status.

“Jack McDonald represents the very best of what makes Quinnipiac special: building community through a complete commitment to our student athletes and their families,” Thompson said.

McDonald was also key in designing the TD Bank Sports Center, a state of the art, $52 million facility which houses the basketball and ice hockey teams.

“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. “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.”

In his 20-year career at Quinnipiac, McDonald has guided the university to 28 conference championships. He also played an instrumental role in Quinnipiac hosting the 2014 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four.