Long Beach State announced Tuesday that Executive Director of Athletics Andy Fee will be leaving the university at the end of the month for a position at the University of Washington.

Fee was hired as the school’s athletic director in 2017 and was promoted last spring to Executive Director of Athletics. At Washington, he will serve as Deputy Athletics Director and Chief of Staff.

“The past five-plus years have been very special,” Fee said in a press release issued by Long Beach State. “I want to share my gratitude to each of you for investing and believing in our student-athletes and coaches.”

During Fee’s time at Long Beach State, the school’s men’s volleyball team won two NCAA national championships, in 2018 and 2019, and reached the NCAA final a third time this past season.

Long Beach State athletics also had multiple sports win Big West Conference championships the past five years and recently brought home the school’s ninth Big West Commissioner’s Cup.

“I was very lucky to be a part of a special group here and it starts with our president,” Fee said. “I wouldn’t trade the last five years for anything.”

Long Beach State president Dr. Jane Close Conoley said in a statement she is planning to select an interim athletic director before Fee’s departure at the end of the month.

“We are so appreciative of (Fee’s) many contributions during his more than five years here,” she said. “COVID, too, brought an unprecedented set of challenges that Andy ably helped us navigate over these many months.”

Conoley noted the athletic department’s academic growth during Fee’s time at the school. This past school year, Long Beach State had 74 student-athletes earn a spot on the All-Big West Academic team.