Northern Michigan University is now searching for a new athletic director following an announcement on Thursday.

Ken Godfrey, NMU's Special Assistant to President/Athletic Director, is stepping down from the athletic director portion of his position.

Godfrey came to NMU in 1979 and has been the athletic director since June of 2003.  He was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in the fall of 2010 and has been on leave since then.

NMU expects to have a new athletic director announced by May 1, according the NMU Sports Information Coordinator Calvin Larson.

"My hope is to return to NMU when I am, once again, healthy, but not as AD," said Godfrey.  "It is in the best interest of the department and the university at this time to get a permanent athletic director in place who can continue to move Wildcat athletics forward."