After a successful tenure marked by the Mustangs' move to the ACC, SMU athletic director Rick Hart will step down at the end of the academic year. He will be replaced by a new athletic director chosen by incoming SMU president R. Gerald Turner.
SMU athletic director Rick Hart announced his departure from the university in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. Hart, who has served as SMU 's athletic director since July 16, 2012, will step down at the end of the current academic year. His decision allows incoming SMU president, R. Gerald Turner, to bring in his own athletic director when he officially assumes the role on June 1.
Hart's tenure at SMU was marked by significant achievements, particularly leading the Mustangs' move to the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for football. Within days of the historic announcement, SMU secured $100 million in fundraising from approximately 30 donors to support the transition. During his time, SMU experienced success across multiple sports, winning 46 team conference titles in 17 sports, with all Mustang sports advancing to the postseason at least once since 2021. The men's basketball team made two NCAA Tournament appearances, and the football team reached the ACC championship game in its inaugural season in the conference.Hart's departure coincides with both of his children moving on as SMU alumni. While he expressed excitement about embracing a new challenge, he did not disclose his future plans. SMU announced that it will initiate the search for a new athletic director in the coming weeks. Hart reflected on his time at SMU, stating that he fulfilled the mission of building a nationally competitive athletics program, a goal he shared with President Turner when he was initially interviewed for the position
SMU Athletic Director Rick Hart ACC Football NCAA Texas
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