Smith has 22 years of experience in executive roles in the MLB, NFL, MLS and at Ohio State.
Maryland athletics is hiring Atlanta Braves executive Jim Smith as its new athletic director, it announced in a release Thursday.
Smith comes to College Park with a variety of experience at both the professional and college level. He has served as the Braves’ senior vice president of business strategy since 2020, and is president of JS Sports Properties and Consulting. He was also previously vice president and chief marketing officer of the Atlanta Falcons from 2004 to 2013, president and general manager of Columbus Crew SC in Major League Soccer from 2000 to 2004 and president and CEO of Ohio State’s alumni association from 2016 to 2020.
Smith also held multiple executive roles at Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment. There, he was instrumental in the creation of Atlanta’s MLS club, Atlanta United, and the generation of a strategic revenue plan for Mercedes-Benz Stadium — the Falcons and Atlanta United’s home stadium, which opened in 2017 — according to Maryland’s release.
Smith’s last role in college sports was as Ohio State’s associate athletic director from 1995 to 2000.
“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 president Darryl Pines said in the release.
Smith’s hiring marks the end of a month-and-a-half long search following the abrupt departure of former athletic director Damon Evans, who left for the same role at SMU in March. Colleen Sorem was interim athletic director during the search — she oversaw the hiring of Maryland men’s basketball head coach Buzz Williams and a contract extension for longtime Maryland men’s lacrosse coach John Tillman.
“I am highly motivated to build upon excellence and lead Maryland forward in a dynamic and pivotal time for intercollegiate athletics, with a sharp focus on student-athlete health, well-being and academic success,” Smith said in the release.