(AP) -- Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby has told his staff that he is leaving to become the Big 12 Conference commissioner, according to a person with knowledge of the discussion.

Bowlsby told coaches and staff on Thursday that he will remain with the Cardinal until June.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither Stanford nor the Big 12 has discussed the hire, which could be announced later Thursday.

After six years at Stanford, Bowlsby will take over a BCS conference that seems to have found some stability after losing four schools over the past two years. It will head into this fall with 10 members, including two new additions in TCU and West
Virginia.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)