The University of Maryland hired Jim Smith as its next athletic director, the school announced Thursday morning, capping off a monthslong search that followed the unprecedented exodus of former AD Damon Evans and men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard. Smith hopes to steady Maryland athletics during a turbulent time in College Park and elsewhere across college sports.

Smith possesses the traits the Terps sought in their next athletic director. He’s a skilled and proven fundraiser at the college and professional level who also has Big Ten ties.

Here are four things to know about Maryland’s new hire:

He offers a unique blend of college and professional histories

Smith worked for the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons and Columbus Crew in various roles over the past two decades. Most recently with the Braves, Smith served as the senior vice president for business strategy since 2020. According to a Maryland news release, he “led a team focused on implementing innovative business, brand, marketing and communications strategies to drive revenue, engagement and membership growth,” and he is the club’s point person for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park.

Before that, Smith held executive positions with Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment, which oversees the Falcons and Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United. He played a role in the design and development of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium project and oversaw sales, naming rights and sponsorship initiatives for the stadium and was the “driving force” behind the creation of Atlanta United, according to the release.

“The University of Maryland is getting a seasoned sports executive with a proven track record of enhancing championship organizations,” Derek Schiller, President and CEO of the Atlanta Braves, said in the release. “Jim is bringing more than 20 years of successful experience strategically building revenue and developing talent at the professional and collegiate levels. He is an excellent communicator with an innate ability to lead in complex multifaceted organizations. There is no doubt that he will take Maryland’s athletic program to new heights and we wish him nothing but the best.”

He has deep Big Ten connections

After graduating from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s in communications, Smith earned a master’s in sports management from Ohio State University in 1991. In 2016, Smith led the Ohio State University Alumni Association as its president and CEO and oversaw a $17 million budget. During his tenure, the organization enjoyed a 15% increase in alumni participation and raised its annual giving revenue to a record $44 million. In 2020, he left to care for his aging parents.

“My definition of family has grown significantly the last few years to include more than 570,000 of my fellow alumni,” Smith said at the time. “But as my parents have gotten older, their needs have changed, and I need to be closer to them and the rest of my family in Atlanta.”

He’s a huge Ohio State football fan

Smith is a big fan of Ohio State football. In a 2016 promotional video produced by the alumni association as part of its “My Buckeye Moment” celebration, Smith recalled attending the 1997 Rose Bowl when the Buckeyes rallied from a 17-14 deficit with a little over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter and scored with 19 seconds left to cap a dramatic 20-17 win against Arizona State. “But my always, every-year favorite moment is watching the Buckeyes play Michigan and, as we’ve done recently, dominate Michigan. So I’m looking forward to being a part of that here in the Shoe this year, but also, that’s one of my very special Buckeye football moments.”

Ohio State has dominated Maryland since the Terps joined the Big Ten just over a decade ago. They’re 0-9 against the Buckeyes with defeats of 59, 49 and 48 points.

He has experience in education

Shortly after Smith’s arrival in Atlanta, he was named CEO of the Arete Scholars Fund Board of Directors, a position he served for one year until Aug. 2021. The fund offers need-based scholarships to help parents afford the cost of tuition at private schools and is available in Georgia and Louisiana. Although he is no longer CEO, Smith was still active in the organization, joining the host committee for a fall social event in October held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons.

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