Mac McDonald's second tour as the radio voice of Virginia's athletic program has come to a close after 12 years.

The parent company for UVa's radio network announced Wednesday that McDonald resigned Tuesday.

A news release distributed by CBS Collegiate Sports Properties said that McDonald was leaving "to pursue other interests."

Doug Paschal, vice president and general manager of CBS Collegiate Sports Properties, would not say if McDonald's decision was voluntary.

"The press release, I think, gives you all that information," Paschal said.

McDonald did not respond to a voice message and the news release did not elaborate on his future plans.

"Representing Virginia athletics and being the voice has been a true passion for me," McDonald was quoted in the release. "I now have an opportunity on a couple of fronts to move forward in my career and pursue a couple goals that I have had for some time.

"I will always treasure my time with the players, coaches and administration."

McDonald was 27 when he was hired by UVa for the first time in 1980. He left the network following the 1984-85 basketball season and did not do sports play-by-play work again until 1990, when he was hired by Wake Forest.

In 1996, then-UVa athletic director Terry Holland brought McDonald back to Charlottesville. Holland had been the UVa men's basketball coach during McDonald's earlier stint.

"There's no way, no way, I ever thought I'd be back," McDonald told The Roanoke Times on the occasion of his return.

McDonald, a five-time state sportscaster of the year, also served as the host for the UVa football and men's basketball coaches' shows, "Cavalier Call-In."

"Mac McDonald's name has been synonymous with Virginia athletics for many years, and he leaves big shoes to fill," athletic director Craig Littlepage was quoted in the school's news release.

"Mac has been effective in articulating the goals of our athletic department and has provided significant service to the Charlottesville community."

Paschal did not furnish a timetable for finding a replacement.

"Obviously, this comes as a shock to us," Paschal said in a short phone interview. "So it's important that we begin the process as quickly as we can to locate the right person that fits within the University of Virginia culture."

Paschal would not say how long he had known of a potential vacancy.

"I will not get into personnel matters," he said. "Again, the press release states everything."