Thursday was a bittersweet day for Cary Groth as she said goodbye to friends and fans at NIU.

At Groth’s open house Thursday, people filtered into the back room of the Stratford Inn, 114 W. State St., Sycamore, to wish her well, as she is leaving her NIU athletic director position to take the same position at the University of Nevada at Reno.

Those in attendance watched a retrospective video clip of Groth’s career set to LeeAnn Womack’s song “I Hope You Dance.”

“I think I’m going to cry,” NIU President John Peters said during the video.

Peters, like many staff members, stopped by to say goodbye to Groth.

“The community has been really good to me,” Groth said. “I wish them the best.”

Groth said the people in Nevada reminded her of the people of DeKalb and Sycamore. She said the time was right to move on to another university.

“I think it’s a good time for someone new to come in and renew the athletics program,” Groth said. She said it was time for someone else to take the program to the next level.

George Shur, former NIU general counsel and a good friend of Groth, said the job in Nevada is well-deserved. Shur said he was saddened, not only for himself but for NIU as well.

On Thursday, NIU announced that Shur was appointed to serve as interim athletic director while NIU conducts a national search to find a replacement for Groth.

P.J. Fleck, senior wide receiver for NIU football, said he and Groth were close, even off the field.

Nevada is getting a great athletic director, Fleck said. He said that’s why Groth’s open house “had the best of both worlds.”

“The sky’s the limit for a woman like that,” Fleck said.