All reigns must come to an end.

After 40 years as Otterbein’s head men’s basketball coach, Dick Reynolds will retire at the end of this 2011-2012 season, and will also retire from his position as Otterbein’s athletic director.

“In your life you can change and overcome a lot of things, but you cannot change or overcome time,” said Reynolds, 69, in his official statement from the athletic department. “It’s time for me to do something different.”

Robert Gatti, dean of student affairs, confirmed that Reynolds is to retire, and said the decision was “absolutely his choice.”

“Coach has been here for 40 years,” said Gatti. “He’s been dedicated to … Otterbein, not only the basketball program, but Otterbein as a whole. He’s quite the family man. I’ve never been to a basketball game that his loving wife Ellen hasn’t been in the bleachers.”

According to players, Reynolds broke the news to his team in the locker room after their close loss to Mount Union on Saturday.

Gatti said at the close of the basketball season the administration will appoint an interim athletic director and put a plan in place to search for Reynolds’ successor.

He also said Otterbein will, this time, hire a separate athletic director and head men’s basketball coach.

While some players declined to comment, one did comment on Reynolds career and his announcement.

“Coach has obviously done a lot for the school and for the basketball program,” said Tommy Waterwash, junior point guard. “He has won a lot of games, conference championships and a national championship. He also has done a lot for the kids who have come through the programs. It’s disappointing we have struggled the past few years, especially this year as it is going to be his last season coaching here after all the years of his success.”

An Otterbein graduate of 1965, Reynolds served three years in the Air Force, and also taught seventh-grade science at a London, Ohio, high school before coming to Otterbein to work as assistant coach.

Once he became head coach, his most famous season came in 2002 when the men’s team won a national championship. He holds the record for career coaching victories in the OAC with 649 so far.

Reynolds has been voted OAC Coach of the Year nine times and was inducted to the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame and the Otterbein College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.

His overall record stands at 649-421 (.607), averaging 16.3 wins per season.