MILWAUKEE — Marquette University will pause its search for a new athletic director until the school names a permanent president to replace Michael Lovell, who died two weeks ago.

Kimo Ah Yun, Marquette’s acting president and provost, announced Monday the athletic director search is on hold, for now. Bill Scholl, who has been Marquette’s athletic director since 2014, said last month he would retire as soon as the school names his successor.

“The athletic director position is one in which the president has a key role in vetting and hiring, so it is prudent that we pause this important leadership search during this time of transition,” Ah Yun said in a statement. “I want to thank Bill Scholl for his selfless commitment to Marquette as he provides leadership continuity across all our Division I Big East athletic programs.”

Marquette’s Board of Trustees will lead the search for the school’s next president. Marquette officials said Monday more information on that search will be shared “in the coming weeks.”

Marquette’s athletic director reports directly to the president.

Lovell became the 24th president of Marquette University in 2014. He died June 9 at the age of 57 after a three-year battle with cancer. He had been dealing with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that develops in the bones and soft tissues.

In a letter, the university said Lovell fell ill while in Rome with his wife, Amy, and members of the Society of Jesus and the Board of Trustees, for a Jesuit formation pilgrimage.

After falling ill, Lovell was taken to a hospital.