In a shocking turn of events, Rhode Island athletic director Thorr Bjorn, who had recently signed a five-year extension in June, has reportedly been hired to join the UMass athletic department as a “senior
deputy athletic director” and “chief of business administration.”
ESPN’s Pete Thamel was first to report, with UMass confirming the hire on Wednesday afternoon. The move comes less than 24 hours after UMass football suffered a 44-10 loss to the Akron Zips on national television to kick off UMass’ first weeknight game as a full-time MAC member.
Bjorn will reportedly be primarily responsible for the day-to-day operations of the football program. Current athletic director Ryan Bamford, who made the hire, will remain at the university in his current role.
“At a critical time for our athletics department, I am absolutely thrilled to have Thorr return to UMass to share his tremendous skills and experience with our entire department and, most importantly, help Massachusetts football realize championship success once again,” Bamford said via press release. “Thorr is a passionate and respected leader who cares deeply about UMass and will help lead Massachusetts athletics into a new era of college athletics. Thorr and I have enjoyed a special relationship as colleagues and friends for ten-plus years in the Atlantic 10 conference. His counsel will be a tremendous asset to me, and I am confident that adding his expertise and administrative acumen will lead to even greater athletic success at the flagship.”
Bjorn, a three-year letterwinner for UMass football who graduated in 1990, returns to Amherst after 18 years with the Rams. In that time, Bjorn has developed a reputation as one of Division I’s best athletic directors, winning the NACDA FCS Athletic Director of the Year award in 2016 and 2025.
“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 said via press release. “I am excited to work alongside Ryan and head coach Joe Harasymiak and his staff and to help build a championship-caliber football program in the Mid-American Conference. In addition, I look forward to collaborating with our coaches, staff, alumni, fans and donors to advance a culture of championship excellence — in the classroom, in the community and on the fields of competition.”
In his tenure at URI, the Rams won 40 total league titles between tenures in the Coastal Athletic Association and the Atlantic 10 Conference— including 11 over the last three years— and established themselves as one of the A-10’s best overall programs, with only Virginia Commonwealth (17) winning more titles since 2023.
Bjorn’s specialization has been in applied fundraising and spending, with his most recent success being the acquisition of $65.8 million from the Rhode Island state budget earmarked to facility improvements for URI’s football, baseball, softball, soccer and swimming programs.
Other major spending projects on Bjorn’s resume include the construction of the Soloviev Basketball Practice Facility, which opened in 2023 and cost $8 million, and the Ryan Family Student-Athlete Center, which opened in 2014 and cost $5 million. In his time at URI, Bjorn has acquired and spent over $25 million from both internal and external sources to improve various facilities.
Bjorn previously served in various administrative roles at UMass in two separate stints, eventually rising up to the rank of interim athletic director in September 2003. In his time as interim AD, Bjorn was responsible for the creation of a sustainability report for a potential move to what is now called the Division I FBS level. Bjorn is also credited with securing UMass’ apparel deal with Adidas, the installation of a multi-million dollar video board inside Mullins Arena and replacing the turf at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
Bjorn is set to be introduced to UMass media for a press conference on Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time.
