Maryland hiring Jim Smith as next AD: School taps Atlanta Braves executive to replace Damon Evans

Maryland has hired Atlanta Braves executive Jim Smith as its next athletic director, sources confirmed to CBS Sports. Smith currently serves as the Braves’ senior vice president for business strategy. He replaces Damon Evans, who left to become SMU’s athletic director in March. 

Smith is slated to start at Maryland on July 15th. Yahoo Sports first reported the news of Smith’s hire.

“As college athletics rapidly evolves, Jim brings valuable administrative and business experience, plus the energy, vision and passion to lead our athletics program to new levels of success and impact,” University of Maryland president Darryll Pines said in a release. 

In addition to working for the Braves, Smith has also worked for Ohio State, the Atlanta Falcons and the Columbus Crew. He served as the chief marketing officer for the Atlanta Falcons and as vice president/general manager for the Crew. At Ohio State, he served as president and chief executive officer of the Ohio State Alumni Association from 2016-2020. 

Smith plans to utilize those Ohio State connections at Maryland. In a release announcing his hire, the school said he plans to hire recently retired Ohio State AD Gene Smith as a consultant. 

Smith inherits an athletic department that has experienced significant turnover in recent months after Evans left for SMU and basketball coach Kevin Willard bolted for Villanova. Interim athletic director Colleen Sorem hired Texas A&M’s Buzz Williams to replace Willard. 

‘He played us like a drum’: Inside Kevin Willard’s turbulent Maryland departure

John Talty

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/maryland-hiring-jim-smith-as-next-ad-school-taps-atlanta-braves-executive-to-replace-damon-evans/

Author : John Talty

Publish date : 2025-05-15 14:09:00

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