When University of California administrators initially sought out University of Texas Chancellor Mark Yudof for the UC president’s position, many were unsure if he would accept the role.

“Someone who knew chancellor Yudof, I said ‘Should I call him?’ (and) he said, ‘You can but you’d be wasting your time,’” said UC Board of Regents Chairman Richard Blum. “I actually expected a three-minute conversation and a polite no so I put my best game face on and got through the conversation.”

Yudof was unanimously appointed by the board on Thursday for the UC president’s position, a week after he was recommended by a regents’ selection committee.

But Yudof said he was not expecting to be contacted for the UC president’s post.

“It took me a very long time to decide that I was interested in the job,” he said. “I just wasn’t looking for another job and I hadn’t sent a resume in anywhere.”

Yudof said he has not yet put in his resignation letter to the University of Texas, but is only hoping to help them in the transition to a new chancellor.

“The (University of) Texas Board of Regents has been very gracious to me and my family. I don’t want to leave them in the lurch,” he said.