During his career in college athletics, mentors told Gene DeFilippo that he “would know when it was time to go.” After 15 years as Boston College’s director of athletics, DeFilippo knew it was time, and announced his retirement Friday. He will leave his position Sept. 30 and take a mini-sabbatical, then teach courses in sports management and work as a consultant. DeFilippo views his retirement as “changing gears” and “going from one phase to another.”

The announcement comes almost eight weeks after DeFilippo was diagnosed with a treatable form of melanoma. He said the cancer was “a wake-up call, but it’s nothing serious.” DeFilippo added that doctors believe they have removed all of the cancer and that he has “nothing to worry about in the future.” Still, the melanoma brought clarity to his decision and made it somewhat easier to leave his post.