Maryland athletic director Ken Anderson sent a memo to university coaches Monday announcing a six-month “professional development sabbatical” in which he’ll work on “various projects focusing on leadership development, including work with a broad coalition of groups focused on issues of equity, student athlete activism and inclusion in college athletics.”

Anderson will keep his job while away from the program. University president Wallace Loh will appoint an administrator to run Maryland athletics in Anderson’s absence.

Reports Saturday said Anderson had been fired by Maryland, but the university quickly refuted that information. Anderson reportedly had not been seen in his office since the end of September, and had not attended any of the team’s football games.

Anderson has been the AD at Maryland since replacing Debbie Yow in 2010.