Spring Break
New AD hopes to increase Rhody fan base
Matt Pavao
Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: Campus
- Page 1 of 4 next >
With the frame of a former college football player, the University of Rhode Island's new Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn is an intimidating presence but his big smile gives him away as he has been a breath of fresh air for the University's athletic department.
The resignation of former Athletic Director Tom McElroy last October ended a rocky time for an athletic department that had fractured under his time as AD. When the University began advertising the position in April, the ability to work well with the department was important.
"We needed a person who could be a healer and [Thorr] had the perfect personality to do it," URI President Robert L. Carothers said. "We wanted to bring the fractions back together in the athletic department."
Bjorn not only brings his years of experience at University of Massachusetts in Amherst, but also a likable personality and the ability to work with others to bring the department together.
"Every person that has met him has liked him," Carothers said. "He has done very well. He has met with everyone in the department and heard their ideas. He is a great listener."
For Bjorn, his first weeks on the job have gone very well and the passion of the school has really impressed him.
"It's been great," Bjorn said. "I've been to a number of meetings and receptions and people have been extremely positive and extremely supportive."
Rhode Island was looking for a person with experience at a comparable institution and with a background in marketing, Bjorn fit that to a T. He was entering his fourth year as the senior associate athletic director at UMass when he was officially hired on July 25. With UMass in the Atlantic 10 Conference with URI, Bjorn knew the school well and had an extensive history with successful marketing.
"Coming from the same conference, I had heard about the job and it caught my eye," he said. "It was certainly at the top of my list of schools that I would want to work at, reason being that it's so similar to my experience at UMass."
The resignation of former Athletic Director Tom McElroy last October ended a rocky time for an athletic department that had fractured under his time as AD. When the University began advertising the position in April, the ability to work well with the department was important.
"We needed a person who could be a healer and [Thorr] had the perfect personality to do it," URI President Robert L. Carothers said. "We wanted to bring the fractions back together in the athletic department."
Bjorn not only brings his years of experience at University of Massachusetts in Amherst, but also a likable personality and the ability to work with others to bring the department together.
"Every person that has met him has liked him," Carothers said. "He has done very well. He has met with everyone in the department and heard their ideas. He is a great listener."
For Bjorn, his first weeks on the job have gone very well and the passion of the school has really impressed him.
"It's been great," Bjorn said. "I've been to a number of meetings and receptions and people have been extremely positive and extremely supportive."
Rhode Island was looking for a person with experience at a comparable institution and with a background in marketing, Bjorn fit that to a T. He was entering his fourth year as the senior associate athletic director at UMass when he was officially hired on July 25. With UMass in the Atlantic 10 Conference with URI, Bjorn knew the school well and had an extensive history with successful marketing.
"Coming from the same conference, I had heard about the job and it caught my eye," he said. "It was certainly at the top of my list of schools that I would want to work at, reason being that it's so similar to my experience at UMass."
