Retiring University of Northern Iowa President Robert Koob has decided to turn down another job with the state. The Board of Regents announced last fall that Koob would retire as president, but would stay on the U-N-I faculty. Koob asked the Regents to grant him a professional development leave that would allow him to stay involved in U-N-I and Iowa, but be away from the campus.

In a letter to the president of the Regents, Koob says with the funding from the state expected to be below what the university needs, he does not feel comfortable asking the school to cover his salary. Koob says he will instead take a leave without pay. Koob says he plans to return to a home he has in California once the Regents name a new president for the Cedar Falls school. The search for Koob’s replacement is ongoing.