COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The University of Maryland’s new athletic director certainly understands the job description in 2025.
“We’re going to focus on revenue, because make no mistake about it, to compete with the caliber of schools, not just in the Big Ten but across the country, we must increase our revenues,” Jim Smith said while being formally introduced Thursday. “We’re going to be trying a few new things — I’m not going to tell anyone any of them today — taking new approaches, applying what I’ve learned from professional leagues.”
Maryland hired Smith last week, wrapping up a fairly turbulent couple months for the athletic department. In March, athletic director Damon Evans left for SMU, and around the same time, men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard departed to take the Villanova job. The Terrapins quickly hired Buzz Williams away from Texas A&M to replace Willard.
Smith arrives from Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves, where he was the senior vice president of business strategy. He has also been president and CEO of the Ohio State University Alumni Association, and he has held senior executive positions at Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment, in charge of revenue and marketing for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United FC.
“I think you can see his vision is next level, outside the box,” Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese said. “It’s a unique hire that in these changing times I think is much warranted.”