University of Massachusets Athletics
Thorr Bjorn Appointed Interim AD
 |  Thorr Bjorn was named the Interim Athletic Director on Wednesday. |
Sept. 17, 2003
AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts Amherst Chancellor John V. Lombardi has appointed Thorr D. Bjorn, associate athletic director for sales and marketing, to be Interim Athletic Director. Lombardi also said that within a week or so, he will announce a search committee to find a permanent replacement for outgoing Athletic Director Ian McCaw. McCaw was recently named Athletic Director at Baylor University. Bjorn assumes his new responsibilities Sept. 22. He will not be a candidate for the permanent post.
Lombardi said: "I have every confidence in Thorr Bjorn and am certain he will work to ensure that the progress we have made and the plans we have initiated in athletics will continue. As a member of the current administrative team, Thorr can take on this assignment for the relatively short time needed with minimum disruption to the athletic department's many activities."
Lombardi also said he has asked Michael Gargano, vice chancellor for student affairs and campus life, and John Dubach, special assistant to the chancellor, to serve as an executive committee in support of the interim athletic director. "As we are in a fiscally challenging time and as we have many significant decisions yet to make about the directions of our athletic program, we will need to ensure that UMass Athletics has the strongest support possible from the campus," said Lombardi.
"The executive committee's role will be to meet regularly with the interim AD on issues of budget, personnel, and other major policy questions to ensure the athletic program has strong, visible, and effective campus support to maintain the strength and continuity of our program through this transition," he said.
After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University, Bjorn was assistant athletic director for tickets and game operations at UMass Amherst from 1990-96. He was appointed associate athletic director for marketing in 1996, and served in that position for four years. In 2000, he became director of regional sales and marketing for Resorts Sports Network in Portland, Maine, returning to UMass Amherst in his current position in April 2003. As a UMass Amherst undergraduate, Bjorn earned three varsity letters as a member of the Minuteman football team from 1988-90.
Lombardi met today with the coaches and staff of the athletic department to review budget issues and the progress of the trustee ad-hoc committee on athletics, as well as to answer questions about the AD search process. Despite unanticipated changes, Lombardi said, "The University remains fully committed to the success of the entire intercollegiate athletic program at UMass Amherst."