“The past 26 years have been an amazing ride of challenges, victories, defeats and memorable experiences,” Ianni said in a press release. “But above everything else, what I will remember most are the incredible people I have been blessed to work with. I’ve been planning this retirement for a couple years now, and the time is right for me and my family to look forward to the next adventure in our lives.”

As the deputy AD, Ianni oversees the Spartans’ athletic facilities, while working towards the development of long-range plans for improving those sites. He also is in charge of event management for all sports, along with equipment, IT and human resources, and is the sport supervisor for men’s and women’s golf, and assists with football.

Ianni has overseen renovations of Spartan Stadium, including a $64 million Spartan Stadium expansion project completed before the 2005 football season. He also oversaw renovations to Jenison Field House, Munn Ice Arena, the football practice fields and the men's and women's basketball locker rooms. 

He oversaw the construction of the Skandalaris Football Center, the $24.5 million North End Zone project at Spartan Stadium, the Clara Bell Smith Academic Center, the Berkowitz Basketball Complex, the Lasch Golf Center and the $20 million Gilbert Pavilion which holds the Izzo Hall of History, along with the Old College Field project, which featured new homes for soccer (DeMartin Stadium), baseball (McLane Stadium) and softball (Secchia Stadium).

MSU football coach Mark Dantonio and hockey coach Danton Cole both congratulated Ianni on his retirement at the start of their news conferences Tuesday, with Dantonio "wishing him the very best."

Cole said Ianni has been "in the middle of" the Munn renovations Cole is trying to raise money for.

"He's been a great Spartan, and a great help to me and my family," Cole said. "I just want to congratulate him on a great career."

And Cole's sentiment is shared with Beekman — who Ianni will be advising.

“On behalf of the entire Michigan State athletic department I’d like to thank Greg Ianni for his many years of service,” Beekman said in a press release. “He’s provided outstanding leadership for the department, and has played an instrumental role in the construction and renovation of our first-class athletic facilities. We wish him, his wife Jamie and the entire Ianni family many years of happiness in their newest life chapter.”