Penn State's Executive Vice President and Provost William C. Richardson will accept the Johns Hopkins University presidency if named Wednesday, a top Penn State administrator confirmed Saturday.

"He's definitely leaving unless the board (at Hopkins) suddenly changes its mind," said Charles Hosler, Penn State's senior vice president of research and dean of the graduate school.

Richardson would not comment Saturday on his plans to accept the presidency at Hopkins.

Although Richardson was a leading candidate for Penn State's presidency, his departure will not affect the University's scheduled search nor influence University President Bryce Jordan to stay longer.

Hopkins' selection committee met Friday to make its recommendation to its full board of trustees and confirmation is expected Wednesday.

Richardson asked Hosler to delay his own retirement in order to maintain some stability within the administration, Hosler said. Hosler was originally scheduled to retire in June 1989, but the date was pushed back. He now expects to maintain his position until at least June 1991.

Richardson's departure along with Jordan's impending retirement made it important to maintain someone in the administration who knew long- term plans, Hosler said.

Hosler said both Richardson and the trustees also wanted him to stay in his position to avoid having too much activity at the University devoted to searching for candidates to replace senior administrators.

"It would be like a big Easter egg hunt," Hosler said.

The University is currently seeking candidates not only for the president, but also for a new vice provost who will be in charge of handling minority concerns here.

While Richardson's position will need to be filled, Huck said it is not unusual for a new president to pick his own provost.

Until recently, Richardson was considered a likely candidate to replace Jordan, who retires Aug. 31.

But J. Lloyd Huck, head of the Trustee Presidential Selection Committee, said at a news conference following the Saturday meeting of the University Board of Trustees, that he has "accepted pretty much" that Richardson will no longer be a candidate here.

"There are a lot of people, including myself, who will be saddened by losing Dr. Richardson as a candidate," Huck said.

However, he said the search for a new president is on schedule and he expects to have a candidate in place by the time Jordan retires.

"There's more than one person in this country who can run this University, " he said.

Huck said no possibility exists of Jordan remaining in his position beyond his scheduled retirement date.

The Presidential Search and Screen Committee is reviewing candidates to replace Jordan and is scheduled to submit a list of five to 10 candidates to the trustee selection committee by March 1.

Hosler said he is sorry to see Richardson go because his unique skills as an administrator have aided the University immeasurably while he was here.

"He was an excellent provost and he will be an excellent president, but not for us, I guess," Hosler said. "It would have been nice to have Dr. Richardson stay on."

Richardson became the only presidential candidate at Hopkins after a second finalist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Provost John M. Deutch withdrew his name from consideration last Wednesday.

If confirmed by Hopkins' trustees as the 11th president of the institution, Richardson will replace Steven Muller, who is retiring after 18 years. The position pays $222,307 per year.

According to figures released by student leaders last fall, Jordan earned $145,000 in 1986-1987.

Richardson, who was contacted by Hopkins in November, visited Baltimore two weeks ago for interviews with senior administrators, academic department heads and the presidential selection committee.

Hopkins is internationally recognized for its medical research programs and Richardson has devoted much of his research and writing to issues in health-related fields.

In recent years, Hopkins has suffered financial setbacks, which culminated last year in a crisis which caused a rift between Muller and members of the faculty.

Richardson is widely admired by Penn State's faculty and some members have expressed regret at seeing him leave. He has handled most of the day-to-day operations of the University and been involved in planning and administering the budget since he took his post here in 1984.

Richardson graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., with a degree in history. He later attended the University of Chicago to complete his graduate studies in business.

Before joining Penn State's staff he served as dean of the graduate school and vice provost for research at the University of Washington.