Overview
- Jim Smith, previously the Atlanta Braves' senior vice president for business strategy, has been confirmed as Maryland's next athletic director.
- Smith brings a blend of professional and collegiate sports experience, including roles with the Atlanta Falcons, Columbus Crew, and Ohio State University.
- He will officially assume the position on July 15, succeeding interim AD Colleen Sorem, who led the search process with an 11-member committee and Turnkey search firm.
- University of Maryland President Darryll Pines emphasized Smith's expertise in revenue generation and his vision for guiding the athletics program through a transformative era.
- Smith inherits a department facing fiscal pressures, coaching transitions, and the challenges of competing in the evolving landscape of Big Ten athletics.