FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Frank Broyles announced his retirement Saturday in his usual lively style, telling stories about old football teams and speaking with pride about the athletic department he's dominated for much of a 50-year career.

"It's been a Razorback miracle that I've witnessed," the 82-year-old Broyles said. "And the fans of Arkansas deserve all the credit."

As Arkansas football coach and athletic director, Broyles built a program with high-profile coaches and top-notch facilities. He told the university's board of trustees Saturday that he will retire at the end of the year, ending days of intense speculation about his future.

"I have notified Chancellor [John] White of my decision to retire as director of athletics, effective at the end of the calendar year. This is not an easy decision after 50 years but a choice that I feel is the best," Broyles told the board.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who played for Broyles, addressed the crowd gathered in the ballroom at the Arkansas Union. Among others attending were football coach Houston Nutt, defensive coordinator Reggie Herring, basketball coach Stan Heath and track and field coach John McDonnell.

Jones said afterward he was saddened by Broyles' departure.

"I can tell you from being in the business, he's irreplaceable and he's still 'got it,' and for this state, for this university, I hate to see that diminish in any way," Jones said.

White said he had asked Broyles to remain as a university consultant but said terms had not been worked out. Broyles is a noted fundraiser – recently captaining a $1 billion capital campaign for the school – and the former ABC football analyst is a popular speaker wherever he goes.

"Our hope is that he will be the university's No. 1 ambassador and continue to attract resources for the institution, something he does better than anyone," White said. He asked the trustees to designate Broyles "athletic director emeritus" next Jan. 1.

Broyles told the trustees that from his first day with the Razorbacks, he began every speech by saying it was a "genuine privilege" to represent the university, and he began the same way Saturday.

Nutt said Arkansas would miss Broyles.

"Sometimes you don't realize what you have until he's gone," Nutt said. "I think that's what you'll see. You'll find out."

Nutt said he has no interest in succeeding Broyles as athletic director. He also said he had hoped Broyles would stay about three or four more years. That sentiment was shared by Jones.

"I would never have the Cowboys today and be a part of this if it weren't for Frank Broyles," Jones said. "He's such an inspiration. ... His tact and the technique that he used to build the University of Arkansas program, I'm using as I go forward in sports.

"I don't agree with his decision, and I think our state and what we're about in sports have really had a loss here," Jones added. "So unique, such an asset. You just don't replace that."

Broyles' career at Arkansas began Dec. 7, 1957, when school trustees hired him away from Missouri, where he had coached one year.

While he was coaching, Broyles became famous for hiring top assistants. More than 25 of them eventually became head coaches. The Broyles Award is now given each year to the nation's top assistant football coach.

After becoming AD in 1973, Broyles also hired Lou Holtz to replace him as football coach in 1977 and hired Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson as basketball coaches. Sutton took the Razorbacks to the Final Four and Richardson guided Arkansas to the 1994 national championship. McDonnell's track teams since 1984 have won 42 NCAA championships.

As athletic director, Broyles guided the Razorbacks out of the Southwest Conference and into the more lucrative Southeastern Conference in 1991.

White said recent controversy surrounding the football team – including the departure of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and a pair of top freshmen – might have played a role in the retirement decision.

"I think that certainly recent events would have contributed to it," White said. "I think that the issue really is the level of pressure that exists today. ... With blogs and message boards and talk shows what they are, the pressure on coaches and athletic directors is just incredible today.

Associated Press

A few facts from Frank Broyles' tenure at the University of Arkansas:

•Head football coach, 1958-1976; athletic director, 1973-2007

•Led Arkansas to only football national championship in 1964

•Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 1983

•The Broyles Award, established in 1996, is given each year to the nation's top college football assistant coach

•Notable assistants hired as football coach: Joe Gibbs, Jimmy Johnson and Jackie Sherrill

•Notable hires as AD: football, Lou Holtz; basketball, Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson; track and field, John McDonnell