UC Berkeley Athletic Director Jim Knowlton will be retiring July 1 after seven years in the job, Cal Athletics announced Monday morning. Rather than hiring externally to replace Knowlton, Chancellor Rich Lyons said in an email to the campus community that he will be putting in place a “new leadership structure” and appointing current Deputy Athletic Directors Jay Larson and Jenny Simon-O’Neill co-athletic directors. Knowlton led Cal through several watershed moments in program history, including the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the dissolution of the Pac-12 Conference and Cal’s subsequent move to the Atlantic Coast Conference. “On behalf of the Cal community, I want to thank Jim for his leadership, his integrity, and his devotion to the academic and athletic success of our student athletes,” Lyons said in a Cal Athletics press release. “Jim’s work and accomplishments have set the stage for the next era of excellence across Cal Athletics.” Read more through the link in bio. ✍️: D...