Bingham Wanted to Retire Soon, Claims Resignation Forced

Although Director of Athletics William J. Bingham '16 had told several people that he intended to resign as soon as the pressure was off, his Thursday announcement of retirement was not made voluntarily, the CRIMSON learned yesterday.

Bingham addressed an informal meeting of Harvard coaches yesterday morning in the Indoor Athletic Building. He told the coaches that he had never in his life "quit" under pressure and that he had been asked for his resignation.

One of the reports stated that Bingham had been in conference with high University officials about two weeks ago and had been informed of his coming "resignation" at that time. He had apparently not been told when the announcement was to be made.

The Boston Globe yesterday claimed that a reporter, who had been handed the official release, had "surprised" the athletic director with the news of his retirement. Bingham was quoted as saying, "Will you please excuse me. I certainly must find out what this is all about. A short time later Bingham was reported seen walking out of President Conants Massachusetts Hall office. He refused to make any statement at the time.

Although one or two other men have been mentioned as possible candidates for the post vacated by Bingham, Lloyd Jordan continued to be most-mentioned as the probable successor. For appointment, a new director must be suggested by a committee of the Corporation and approved by the Board of Overseers. It is not yet known whether this has already been done (in the case of Jordan), or whether the Corporation is waiting until later in the term.

When asked yesterday if he had ever been approached concerning the directorship of athletics, Jordan insisted he had not. "I came here as coach of football, that's all," he said. "We shall continue to try to bring Harvard football up. His remarks produced some speculation as to whether Jordan would want to do both jobs, an almost impossible task unless war cut down sharply on local athletics. Men who played under Jordan at Amherst have also disclosed that the coach was constantly trying to raise athletic standards at that school against the colleges "status quo" policy.

Whether or not Jordan was originally asked in from Amherst with the agreement that he would eventually replace Bingham, it has been known for some time that Bingham had been considering retirement within a year or two. He has made it clear to acquaintances however, that he had no intention of "quitting under fire." But he admitted that he had been in the job for a long time and was getting tired of constant criticism from all quarters.