Maryland AD Damon Evans Expected to Leave for SMU

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland athletic director Damon Evans is reportedly a leading candidate to assume the same role at Southern Methodist University (SMU), according to multiple sources.

While a formal agreement is still pending, sources say Evans, who has held the athletic director position at Maryland since 2018, is expected to finalize the move to SMU in the coming days.

This change comes at a pivotal moment for Maryland, whose men’s basketball team is currently seeded No. 4 in the NCAA tournament and is set to face No. 13 Grand Canyon on Friday in Seattle.

Coach Kevin Willard acknowledged the challenges posed by Evans’ potential departure, noting, “It’s kind of tough to negotiate with somebody that’s maybe not here.” Willard is focused on securing a long-term deal for himself amid rising interest from Villanova following their recent coaching change.

“I need to make fundamental changes to the program… We’ve been one of the lowest in NIL in the last two years,” Willard said, emphasizing the necessity of improvements in the name, image, and likeness landscape.

Evans first joined Maryland as a senior associate athletic director in 2014 after a four-year hiatus from athletics. He became interim athletic director in 2017 and was appointed permanently the following year. His expected move to SMU follows the announcement of Rick Hart’s departure at the end of the year, after which Evans would take over as athletic director.

Under Evans, the Terrapins have achieved notable success, including 49 Big Ten championships and several national titles. His potential transition to SMU aligns with the university’s aggressive expansion into major college athletics, especially with its recent move to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

SMU’s leadership, which recently saw the hiring of Texas president Jay Hartzell, appears determined to enhance its athletic program, having invested significant resources into securing its ACC membership. This move underscores the increasing divide seen in college sports, where schools are defining themselves by their financial investments and success.

In discussing the timing of Evans’ potential departure, Willard acknowledged the uncertainty: “If Evans leaves, it is unclear who would be the interim AD and what impact that could have on contract negotiations with me.”

The stakes are high as Maryland prepares for the tournament while also navigating significant behind-the-scenes shifts that could impact the future of its athletic programs.