Latest news with #JimSmith
Washington Post
7 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Bull riding? Wrestling? Maryland's new AD is hardly a traditional hire.
Before Maryland introduced Jim Smith as its new athletic director this spring, the person leading the Terrapins had been a senior associate in College Park, the athletic director at Georgia, an assistant in the Bulldogs' athletic department, an assistant in the SEC offices and the compliance director at Missouri. At one time, that would have been an ideal résumé to run a college athletics operation. That time is not 2025.
Daily Record
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Ayrshire Roadrun delights the crowds as annual procession roars through county
More than 100 vehicle owners took part and delighted the many hundreds of spectators as they set off from the Barony Campus in Cumnock. This year's staging of the Ayrshire Roadrun was hailed as 'outstanding,' as the procession of vintage vehicles made their way through the county. More than 100 vehicle owners took part and delighted the many hundreds of spectators as they set off from the Barony Campus in Cumnock. The route took the convoy north before the procession headed south and took in a variety of towns and villages en route to Portpatrick. And the sun split the sky as the amazing sight of these vehicles brought delight to those who turned out to support the event. Jim Smith, organiser, said: 'An outstanding display of vehicles turned up on the day with 110 entrants at the Campus car park, plus a few added during the run, so our expectations were blown away! 'At the start point the public came out in their hundreds, Photographers, retired truck drivers, families and many more. 'And the weather was outstanding- and maybe too warm at times- as these old girls don't have any fancy air-con.' The organisers handed out free water to those in need and the event caterers kept everyone well fed. Jim continued: 'The spectators were also out in droves along the way. People lined pavements and at a few points farmers stopped their duties to watch the procession go past. 'The highlight for our entrants was when we went past the Wild Swimming Loch, heading back to Stewarton where about 100 swimmers were taking dip due to the weather conditions! 'Our Marshals had already headed off direct to Portpatrick to park up the lorries for the evening where again the public came out support the Run.' The Ayrshire Roadrun will take place on July 11 and July 12 next year. The Ayrshire Vintage Commercial Vehicle Roadrun is organised by the where a number of vintage commercial vehicles are permanently on display along with a number of other historic memorabilia. Its volunteers, along with others, give up their time to prepare and deliver the annual Roadrun.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maryland AD Set for Big Bonus If Terps' Revenue Grows by $50M
When Jim Smith, a former executive with the Atlanta Braves, was hired as the University of Maryland's athletic director in May, he wasted no time outlining his priorities. 'We're going to focus on revenue,' Smith said during his introductory press conference on May 22. 'Make no mistake about it—if we want to compete with the top schools, not just in the Big Ten but across the country, we have to increase our revenues.' More from Big Ten Backs Message Portal Secrecy in Illinois FOIA Case Big Ten Cut Kevin Warren a Big Bonus-Just Not Jim Delany Big How Maryland Will Try to Keep Its Buzz in Wake of Willard Fallout Boosting Maryland's bottom line could also pay off handsomely for Smith personally. According to a copy of his employment agreement obtained by Sportico, the new AD will earn $1.5 million annually in base compensation, with the potential for additional performance and retention incentives. The biggest bonus? Smith will receive a payout equal to his then-current base salary if the athletic department's revenue in the 2029–30 exceeds the 2024–25 total by $50 million—adjusted for inflation and excluding increases in the school's Big Ten Conference distributions. The exact revenue baseline won't be known until Maryland files its FY25 financials with the NCAA early next year. For FY24, the school reported $132.8 million in total athletic revenue, placing it 12th out of 13 Big Ten public universities, according to Sportico's college sports finance database. Aside from Big Ten distributions, Smith's contract language places no other restrictions on which revenue streams—such as student fees or direct institutional support—can count toward the $50 million increase goal. In response to a query, a university spokesperson said that the revenue in question 'is a mutually agreed upon format based on NCAA annual reporting.' A contract amendment signed on May 16—two days after Smith's original agreement was inked—slightly altered the terms of his long-term incentive plan. Originally, Smith's bonus would have been triggered if fiscal year 2030 revenue exceeded FY25 revenue by 50%. Smith's deal highlights how, in today's unmistakably commercialized era of college sports, universities are explicitly prioritizing revenue over all other forms of verifiable success. As such, athletic directors are increasingly being treated like CEOs, with their take-home pay directly tied to their departments' bottom line. The challenge: college sports accounting is an evolving but highly imperfect form of social science. Smith succeeds former Maryland athletic director Damon Evans, who departed for SMU in March after a simmering conflict with former head men's basketball coach Kevin Willard came to a head during the Terrapins' NCAA Tournament run last season. Evans had received a contract extension in August 2024, boosting his non-bonus compensation to $1.28 million, which was set to see him continue in the role through mid-2029. Willard left UMD to takeover as head coach of Villanova at the end of March; the Terps subsequently hired former Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams for a six-year deal that will pay him $4.8 million this coming season. Prior to joining Maryland, Smith served as senior vice president for the Atlanta Braves. Before that, he served as president and CEO of the Ohio State University Alumni Association. In addition to his annual base salary and supplemental compensation, Smith is eligible to earn up to $45,000 annually through performance bonuses tied to booster engagement, athletic success and academic achievement. Smith can be terminated either for cause or in the 'best interests of the university.' In the latter case, the school must pay him damages equal to 18 months of salary or through the end of his contract term—whichever comes first. Conversely, if Smith voluntarily terminates the agreement early, he would owe the university the same amount in severance. Best of Tennis Prize Money Tracker: Which Player Has Earned the Most in 2025? Browns Officially Get Public Money for New Stadium in Ohio Budget WNBA Franchise Valuations Ranking List: From Golden State to Atlanta
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sporticast 467: What Is ‘Revenue,' Anyway?
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including a curious clause in the contract of new Maryland athletic director Jim Smith. Smith's contract says he'd earn a bonus equal to his base salary—the biggest bonus in his deal—if the Terrapins' revenue increases by $50 million by the 2029-30 school year. The school told Sportico that its definition of 'revenue' tracks with that used in the NCAA's annual reporting. That format includes student fee money, government support and direct institutional support as 'revenue,' meaning Smith could theoretically earn that bonus without his athletic department actually generating any more money. Maryland spent about $133 million on athletics in fiscal 2024, with $18 million coming from those subsidy categories, according to data in Sportico's college finance database. More from Novel Finish to MLB All-Star Game Arrives Too Late to Save TV Ratings All-Star Rookie Duo Gives Mystics Stability Amid 'Uncertain' Future MLB All-Star Game Makes History With Home Run Tiebreaker Next they talk about the MLB All-Star Game. If the Home Run Derby was devoid of stars, the game itself delivered, particularly in its final moments. Tied 6-6 after the ninth inning, the contest was decided by a Swing-Off featuring three players from each team. The hosts talk about why the biggest names—like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani—were also absent from that contest, but why it was so successful anyway. Namely, the players themselves seemed to care about it. That trickles down to fans. They also discuss Juan Soto's reaction to not making the All-Star Game. The Mets slugger, who is on a $765 million contract, lamented his exclusion by citing the money he missed out on. Soto's contract reportedly has a $100,000 All-Star bonus. They close by talking about the WNBA All-Star weekend, the status of the league's ongoing labor talks, and a new case study about the New York Liberty. (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.)
Daily Record
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Ayrshire vintage vehicle parade predicted to be biggest and best yet
The annual procession of vintage trucks, tractors, buses- and more- will be on the road and heading through the region over the weekend of Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13. Organisers of the Ayrshire Roadrun are predicting that this year's showpiece could be the biggest and best yet. The annual procession of vintage trucks, tractors, buses- and more- will be on the road and heading through the region over the weekend of Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13. And Ayrshire Live can reveal that around 100 vehicles will take part in the convoy. You can get up close to these amazing vehicles as they'll be on display at the Barony Campus, in Cumnock, before the convoy sets off. There will be a static display at the school car park from 9am until 12noon on Saturday, July 12. Jim Smith, one of the event organisers, said: 'The Ayrshire Vintage Truck Roadrun has been going on now for around 40 years. Back in the 80's the founder, the late Bill Reid, (an Ayr Traffic Constable), started a small truck run of 20 from the parking area outside the Volvo Truck Factory, in Irvine. It would travel around Ayrshire for a couple of hours and then form a static display at the Ayrshire Vintage Tractor Machinery Club event, held at Eglington Park, Kilwinning. 'Each year new ideas would emerge to make it better and bigger and eventually became a two-day event with an overnight stay at Portpatrick. 'In recent years the numbers have been on average 100 trucks and 2025 will be no exception! 'This year we will again start from Cumnock but travel more north, initially, to keep the run fresh and interesting, so we're heading for Galston via the A76 across country to the old A77 toward Glasgow, turning left near Newton Mearns then back towards Stewarton- before cutting back and forth though Neilston, Uplawmoor, Howwood and back to its origins through Kilwinning and then more or less through the Ayrshire bypasses to take us on to the A77 towards Girvan, Ballantrae, Stranraer and Portpatrick.' The convoy will set off at 12noon on Saturday, July 12 from the Barony Campus, turning right at the roundabout and taking the third exit to the A76 towards Kilmarnock. Spectators can see the convoy on the road at the following times and destinations: Mauchline 12.10pm, Crossroads 12.15pm, Galston 12.20pm; Moscow 12.25pm, Waterside 12.30pm, Malletsheugh 12.40pm; Wild Swimmer Loch 12.45pm, Kingsford 1pm, Fullwood 1.15pm; Neilston 1.45pm, Uplawmoor 2pm, Greenacres 2.10pm; Barcraigs Reservoir 2.20pm, Beith 2.30pm; Wilson's Auctions 2.40pm; Dalgarven 2.50pm, Kilwinning 3pm, then along the A78/A77 from 3pm to 4.30pm to Portpatrick. 'These approximate times are based on the first truck,' said Jim. 'The last one could be one hour behind, and some will stop for a snack or to take in the beautiful views.' On Saturday, the convoy will be seen at Galloway Point Caravan Park and around the Main Harbour at Portpatrick from around 4.30pm. On Sunday, the convoy will follow the A75 to Castle Douglas where entrants will peel off on their respective journeys home. To find out more, or to join the Ayrshire Roadrun this year, get in touch with the event organisers on 07980 315932 or e-mail jsm@ Electronic donations can be made by the entrants at RBS, sort code 83-45-00, account 19057307, ref: Vintage Vehicle Village (Heritage Centre) Cumnock.
