UMD Now Home of the Braves’ Former Exec

UMD WELCOMED ITS new Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics on July 15, just two weeks after a landmark NCAA agreement to compensate student-athletes went into effect. It’s the very definition of a game-changer.

Jim Smith, who most recently served as senior vice president of business strategy for the Atlanta Braves, now oversees the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics enterprise of 20 teams, 250 full-time staffers, practice and competition facilities, and TV contracts, all supporting more than 550 student-athletes.

“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,” says UMD President Darryll J. Pines.

Smith says he’s excited to build upon Maryland’s excellence at a pivotal time for intercollegiate athletics, with a sharp focus on student-athletes’ health and well-being and academic success. But his No. 1 priority, he told legendary Terps broadcaster Johnny Holliday, is to bring in more revenue to cover the $20.5 million annually that UMD has committed to paying its student-athletes.

“What we hope is going to happen during my time here is the revenue is going to increase,” he said. “We’re going to be highly competitive in all our sports in the Big Ten, because we already have the coaching component here. Coaches here are great, no question. It’s really amazing talking to them and hearing their passion for Maryland. So that part is figured out. The rest of the puzzle is what we have to do together.”