Gene DeFilippo, the school’s athletic director since 1997, announced his intention to retire on Friday. His retirement will take effect on Sept. 30.

The school said senior associate AD John Kane will serve as DeFilippo’s interim replacement until a permanent successor is found.

DeFilippo said he had been considering stepping away for awhile and a recent health scare helped him decide to leave now.

“It is also the right time for Boston College to have new leadership in the athletics director’s position,” he said. “In light of my recent bout with melanoma, which is treatable, this decision became clearer to me this summer.”

DeFilippo oversaw BC during its move from the Big East to the Atlantic Coast Conference and has led the school to periods of success in several sports. Most recently, the men’s hockey team won its third national title in five years in April.

But BC sports have also experienced meager times recently in high-profile sports such as football and men’s basketball. The football team had its first losing season since 1998 last year, while the men’s basketball team went 9-22.

Last year, DeFilippo touched off a controversy across the college sports landscape when he told the Globe “ESPN told us what to do’’ in relation to the ACC’s expansion plans. He apologized two days later and said he “spoke inappropriately and erroneously regarding ESPN’s role in conference expansion.”

DeFilippo said he plans to remain active at BC by teaching a sports management course and serving as a consultant.