The University of Rhode Island will launch a national search for its next athletics director as Thorr Bjorn is set to formally step down at the end of the month.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the news Wednesday morning that Bjorn had been hired at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, returning to his alma mater to serve as senior deputy athletic director and chief administrative officer.
In June, Bjorn had been promoted to vice president for athletics at URI. The move came with a five-year extension that was set to run through the 2029-30 academic year.
“My wife Cyndy and I thought we would finish my career at URI,” Bjorn said in a note to The Good Five Cent Cigar. “I love working for Marc Parlange and love our staff, coaches and student athletes.”
Specifically, Bjorn will oversee the football program at UMass while assisting Massachusetts Athletics Director Ryan Bamford and Deputy Athletic Director Kirsten Britton with all administrative and managerial aspects of the athletics department.
“I am honored to return to my alma mater,” Bjorn said in a statement from UMass athletics. “When Ryan shared his detailed vision, path to success and the university’s strong commitment and investment in athletics and the football program, I was truly humbled by the opportunity to be part of it.”
Bjorn earned both his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree from UMass. He was a three-year letter winner in football for the Minutemen before spending 15 years working in their athletics department. He worked up to associate athletic director prior to starting with URI in 2007.
Bamford reached out to Bjorn within the past two weeks about the possibility of returning to UMass, according to The Providence Journal. Bjorn agreed to the newly created position on a five-year deal with an annual base salary of $395,000 plus cost-of-living adjustments and incentives, a raise from the $367,129.88 he was set to make this year, according to the state employee payroll database.
“To partner with [Bamford] and [UMass Football Head] Coach [Joe] Harasymiak to help get the football program back to the championship level it was when they played at the FCS level was something that excited me,” Bjorn said in a note to The Good Five Cent Cigar. “It was certainly difficult because I love URI so much. That said, it was the perfect time to go back to UMass.”
At URI, Bjorn helped bring in 40 league championships, hired numerous head coaches and added women’s lacrosse as the 17th Division I program at the university.
“Thorr’s leadership has been instrumental in elevating Rhode Island athletics to new levels of competitive success, academic achievement, and community engagement,” URI President Marc Parlange said in a statement that went out to the URI community on Wednesday afternoon.
As athletics director, Bjorn helped URI secure $65.8 million in state funding last year to improve athletics facilities and has raised more than $25 million in external donations, the most of any AD at the university, according to The Providence Journal.
A press conference introducing Bjorn will take place on Thursday, Nov. 6 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Bjorn’s final day in Kingston will be Nov. 29 before starting his new position in December. Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations Brittney Miles will serve as interim athletics director.
“I really just want to provide any assistance to Brittney Miles as she embarks on her new opportunity as interim AD,” Bjorn said in a note to The Good Five Cent Cigar. “She won’t need much help. She is fantastic and will do an amazing job.”
