Jim Smith has been named the next athletic director at Maryland, the school announced Thursday morning, bringing to College Park a longtime executive in both the professional and college sports ranks who most recently served as the Atlanta Braves’ senior vice president of business strategy.

New Maryland AD Jim Smith offers a unique blend of college and professional histories, and he has deep connections to the Big Ten.

The University of Maryland has named James E. Smith as its new director of athletics. Smith come to Maryland from the Atlanta Braves, where he has been serving as the senior vice president of business strategy.