CARROLLTON, Ga. (AP) — West Georgia athletic director Ed Murphy announced on Friday his retirement effective Jan. 31.

Murphy also served as West Georgia's basketball coach from 1993-2007.

Murphy, who also coached basketball at Mississippi, West Alabama and Delta State, said he was thinking of retirement for some time but wanted to make sure a football stadium project was completed before he left.

"I probably would have retired last June had it not been for the delays there," Murphy said. "But really when — and I had nothing to do with it — the sell of the bonds, when the bonds sold that was the last outside force for that project. I hung on because if the bond hadn't have sold, then there would have been a lot of decisions to make that I would have needed to be involved with."

"I have relied on him on matters concerning the Gulf South Conference where he is regarded as being a voice of authority on a large number of matters," said WGU President Beheruz Sethna. "I will mise his advice and counsel in his AD role."

During his tenure as AD, West Georgia won 12 GSC championships and three NCAA regional titles.

Murphy, who has endured two battles with cancer in recent years, said the decision had nothing to do with health reasons.