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Jeff Kleinschmidt, Director of the United States Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University, announced his retirement Wednesday.

Kleinschmidt has worked at NMU for 25 years and says he has mixed emotions about retiring.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to work with the USOEC administrative and coaching staffs, some of whom are among the most talented, dedicated and hardest-working people in the Olympic movement," said Kleinschmidt.

He began his career at NMU in 1981 as a student employee at the Great Lakes Sports Training Center.  Kleinschmidt was instrumental in getting an Olympic Training Center at Northern.  He researched the requirements and visited training facilities.

In 1986, he was hired as associate director of the Great Lakes State Games, and in 1989 he became assistant director of the USOEC.  Kleinschmidt took over the role of director in 1991.

"My service to the USOEC has been both rewarding and challenging," Kleinschmidt added.

An interim director will be named at a later date, according to NMU President Les Wong.