University of Hawaii Athletics Director Ben Jay is calling it quits after just two years on the job.

He’ll be leaving the school’s athletics program in a world of hurt — $3 million to be exact, as far as the budget deficit goes.

Jay denied claims that he is being forced out, instead telling reporters at a news conference on campus Tuesday that he is departing for family reasons. Jay, who came to UH from Ohio State, had told the Columbus Dispatch that he was stepping down for “personal and professional reasons.”

University of Hawaii Athletic Director Ben Jay announces he is resigning from his position as athletic director due to personal reasons at a press conference Tuesday on campus.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

“I am honored to be AD, and thank everyone at the program, UH, and supporters throughout Hawaii and beyond for the privilege to serve,” Jay said in a statement. “I am gratified by the steps we’ve taken to ensure that UH Athletics is headed in the right direction — especially in supporting the education of our student-athletes, improving facilities, and keeping up with the changing landscape of national collegiate athletics. It is very important to me that I continue to contribute during this transition period.”

His resignation is effective June 30. The search for a replacement will begin in January, according to Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman.

“We are grateful for Ben’s leadership of the Athletics Department,” Bley-Vroman said in a statement. “We must always remember that success in Athletics should be measured, in large part, on the academic experience of student-athletes, who are here at UH Manoa to earn college degrees that will impact their future careers and lives. We appreciate that Ben has given us notice of his intent to leave now, which will give us the necessary lead time to select the next AD, and have that new leader in place before mid-2015.”

The Associated Press has more on the resignation here.