University of Toledo's Karabin retiring

University of Toledo deputy athletic director Mike Karabin.

University of Toledo deputy athletic director Mike Karabin announced Wednesday that he will retire, effective Dec. 31.

Karabin, 54, has been a coach and administrator at UT for the last 32 years. A 1980 Toledo graduate, Karabin was inducted into the Varsity ‘T' Hall of Fame in 2007.

"I am proud of what I have helped accomplish in my association with UT athletics," Karabin said. "I have been enriched by my experience at UT, particularly with all the great people I have had the privilege to work with and come to know as friends over the years. I will truly miss that part of my life.

"I will have had 32 years of service at UT as of this December, which is the uniform number I wore when I played baseball for the Rockets all those years ago, so that number has a nice ring to it for me. I will always be a Rocket, but I feel like it's time for me to pursue other things in my life."

In 2001, Karabin served seven months as interim athletic director. Under Karabin's guidance, the athletic department set a record for revenue generation from ticket sales, sponsorships, advertising and donations, and also sold a school record 10,105 season tickets for football.

UT set Mid-American Conference records in football season-attendance average (30,014) and single-game attendance (36,852 vs. Navy on Oct. 27) under Karabin's reign, and led the nation in attendance as a percentage of capacity (114.4 percent).

"Mike Karabin has devoted himself to the University of Toledo as a student-athlete, coach and administrator," UT athletic director Mike O'Brien said. "He can be very proud of his many achievements at UT. We wish the very best for Mike with his upcoming retirement from UT."