SMU is expected to hire Maryland athletics director Damon Evans to the same post in Dallas, multiple outlets reported Thursday.
Evans will replace Rick Hart, who announced last month he will step down from a job he's held since 2012.
Evans has run Maryland's athletics department since 2018 after joining the Terrapins as an assistant AD in 2014. He previously served as Georgia's AD from 2004-10.
From a football perspective, Evans oversaw a Terps program embroiled in scandal following the death of Jordan McNair following a supervised team workout. Head coach DJ Durkin and head strength coach Rick Court eventually lost their jobs while Evans remained. He hired Mike Locksley as Durkin's replacement, and Locksley remains in place today.
Elsewhere at Maryland, men's basketball coach Kevin Willard talked openly this week about needing "fundamental changes" to remain at the school amid reported interest in the opening at Villanova.
Interesting and honest answer from Kevin Willard about the state of Maryland basketball and why he hasn’t fully committed to Maryland long term amid reports about him taking the Villanova job.
— Sam Oshtry (@soshtry) March 20, 2025
Said his team couldn’t stay an extra night in NYC for Christmas this year because he… pic.twitter.com/tUVmhW0bIS
At SMU, Evans inherits an ascendent and stable football program. Rhett Lashlee is 29-12 in three seasons leading the Mustangs, with an American Athletic Conference championship in 2023 and an ACC Championship berth and College Football Playoff appearance in 2024. The '24 season was SMU's first in the ACC, completing a 3-decade journey back to a power conference following the mid-90s death of the Southwest Conference.
SMU announced the hire of University of Texas president Jay Hartzell to the same post in January.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.