Troy University Director of Media Relations Ricky Hazel announced Thursday that he will be leaving the Trojans athletic department for a position at Stetson University.

Hazel, who has been with Troy since 2003, accepted the position of Assistant Athletic Director for Communications at the DeLand, FL institution.

“My time at Troy was great,” Hazel said. “This is a great opportunity for me and my wife.”

Stetson has announced the school will begin fielding a football team in 2013 and Hazel says he is excited to be a part of building the new program.

“It’s very exciting to come in and help build a program from the ground floor.”

Stetson is already known for having a top -tier baseball program with the team finishing last season ranked 20th in the nation.

For Hazel, however, the move will be bittersweet.

“People ask me about having kids all the time,” Hazel said. “I tell them I have 400 kids every year.”

Graduate Assistant Matt Mays will be taking over Hazel’s daily duties.

While the official search for a permanent replacement has not begun, Mays said the team currently in place is more than capable of handling the job.

“We’ve got a team in place,” Mays said. “Ricky taught us a lot and he will do a great job at Stetson.”