Louisiana Tech has hired Tommy McClelland from McNeese State to be its new athletic director, a source told ESPN's Joe Schad.

Former Louisiana Tech AD Bruce Van De Velde announced in late June that he'd be stepping down.

Van De Velde did not immediately go into detail about the reasons for his decision. His resignation came at the end of an academic year in which the Bulldogs' football team missed out on a bowl game despite a nine-win season and then lost coach Sonny Dykes, who left to coach California.

The Bulldogs were left out of college football's postseason after Van De Velde declined to quickly accept an invitation from the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., holding out for other opportunities that never materialized.

Dykes left soon after Van De Velde said publicly that he would not get into a bidding war to keep the coach and suggested Cal consider another candidate.

"My experience at Louisiana Tech has been both rewarding and challenging," said Van De Velde, who took over in March 2010. "I am proud of my contributions to the competitive and academic success of our student-athletes and coaches."

Louisiana Tech is leaving the Western Athletic Conference and next fall will begin competing in Conference USA.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.