Less than 24 hours after the UMass football team fell to 0-9 on the season after its 44-10 loss to Akron, Ryan Bamford, the school’s Director of Athletics, announced the hiring of Thorr Bjorn as Senior Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Administrative Officer, Wednesday morning.
“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 in a news 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 10-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 returns to UMass after nearly 20 years as Rhode Island’s AD. Prior to that, Bjorn held various roles within the UMass athletics department for 15 years, including the senior associate athletics director position for four years.
Bjorn is also a 1990 graduate of UMass and former member of the Minutemen football team (1987-89).
“I am honored to return to my alma mater and serve as Senior Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Administrative Officer,” Bjorn said. “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. 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.”
According to UMass, Bjorn “will assume sport oversight duties for the UMass football program, with an office in the Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center. He will assist Bamford and Deputy AD/COO Kirsten Britton with all administrative and managerial aspects of the athletics department.”
Bjorn will start on Dec. 1.