Texas A&M athletic director Eric Hyman stepping down

Texas A&M athletic director Eric Hyman is stepping down from his post, the school announced Tuesday.

Hyman, who arrived at Texas A&M in 2012 from South Carolina -- where he held the same position -- oversaw the Aggies athletics' programs transition to the SEC for the past three years. He will remain in his role until a new athletic director is hired.

"I appreciate my time here at Texas A&M University and I am proud of our student-athletes' achievements both on the field and in the classroom," Hyman said in a statement. "The best part of an AD's job is forming wonderful relationships with student-athletes, colleagues, former students and Texas A&M has been no exception."

The news of Hyman's resignation comes only a day after he reinforced public support for Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin in an interview with the Dallas Morning News. Hyman told the paper, "Kevin Sumlin is the captain of our ship and the future looks good." Hyman also said that the school at no time has discussed or thought about the possibility of Sumlin not being the head coach in 2016, despite any frustrations felt by the fan base following the high-profile transfers of two quarterbacks last month (Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray) and the program's struggles in SEC play in the last two seasons. The Aggies started 5-0 in 2014 and 2015 but finished 8-5 in both seasons and outside of the top four of the SEC West.

The Aggies are 36-16 overall since joining the SEC and 17-15 conference play. The men's basketball team is currently enjoying its best start since joining the league, at 11-2 overall and No. 21 in The Associated Press Top 25 under fifth-year coach Billy Kennedy. The Aggies' last trip to the NCAA tournament came in 2011 under previous coach Mark Turgeon.

Texas A&M president Michael K. Young will be directly involved in the hiring of a new athletic director, the school said.