MONTHS. FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES THE U.S.M. ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN THE GOOD HANDS OF AL BEAN, BUT TODAY THE SCHOOL ANNOUNCED THE LONG TIME ATHLETIC DIRECTOR IS RETIRING FROM HIS POSITION AT THE END OF THE SUMMER AND WILL ASSUME THE ROLE OF COMMISSIONER OF THE LITTLE EAST CONFERENCE. COUNTING HIS STANDOUT CAREER AS A BASEBALL PLAYER AT THE SCHOOL, BEAN HAS BEEN A PART OF ATHLETICS AT THE SCHOOL FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, THE LAST 31 AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. BEAN WAS ON HAND TO SPEARHEAD MAJOR GROWTH IN FACILITIES AT THE SCHOOL AND COUNTLESS SUCCESS STORIES OF ITS ATHLETES. HE ENDS AT U.S.M AUGUST 30TH AND BEGINS HIS NEW JOB SEPTEMBER 2ND, HE JOKE