Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson announced Wednesday that he’s stepping down in December after 24 years.

Thompson, 66, is the only commissioner the MWC has ever had since its creation in 1998. League play began in 1999. He will step down on Dec. 31.

“My one remaining priority was expansion of the College Football Playoff and viable access for the Mountain West,” Thompson said in a news release. “I take considerable pride in my committed engagement to this effort over the past two-and-a-half decades and look forward to the finalization of those details in the coming months.

“With CFP expansion accomplished and having invested almost a third of my life in the Mountain West, the time is now right for me to conclude my tenure and allow the conference to continue its momentum under new leadership.”

Per the release, the MWC negotiated nearly $600 million in television revenue under Thompson. MWC teams have participated in five Bowl Championship Series (BCS)/College Football Playoff (CFP) bowl games during his tenure.

–Field Level Media