Maryland Receives Disheartening News on Sunday Morning

Maryland Athletics Loses Key Leader as Damon Evans Moves to SMU

Amid their NCAA Tournament run, Maryland has officially lost a key figure in its Athletic Department. Damon Evans, the university’s Athletic Director since 2018, is leaving College Park to take on the role of Athletic Director at SMU in Texas. His departure comes as Maryland’s men’s basketball coach, Kevin Willard, is negotiating a new contract. With Evans leaving, the university will begin the search for a new Athletic Director, with hopes to retain Willard during the transition.

Damon Evans, Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland, has been named SMU’s new Director of Athletics.

“SMU has tremendous momentum in all aspects of its athletics program, but I believe we can push to even greater heights.” – Damon Evans… pic.twitter.com/zU01EdN2od

— SMU (@SMU) March 22, 2025

Evans, who has a history of leading successful programs at both the University of Maryland and the University of Georgia, was named SMU’s new Athletic Director earlier this week. He brings years of experience from overseeing prominent athletics programs, including a tenure at Georgia where he led the Bulldogs to 13 national championships and 19 SEC titles.

“SMU has tremendous momentum, and I believe we can elevate it to even greater heights,” Evans said upon accepting the position. His leadership and connections in the world of intercollegiate athletics are seen as key assets in helping SMU reach even more success, especially as the school navigates the evolving landscape of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness).

During Evans’ tenure at Maryland, the Terrapins won 49 Big Ten championships and earned seven national titles since he joined the program in 2014. Evans also brought a wealth of experience from his private-sector roles, including managing partnerships and fundraising at notable organizations.

His leadership will now guide SMU Athletics, which is experiencing strong growth, with multiple championship titles and strong postseason performances across various sports. Evans succeeds Rick Hart, who recently left SMU, and will help steer the university’s athletic department to even greater heights as they prepare for competition in the ACC.