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Thorr Bjorn stepping down as URI athletics director for new role at UMass
After nearly two decades at the University of Rhode Island, Vice President and Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn will step down from his position to accept a leadership opportunity at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts.
Bjorn joined URI in 2007 and, during his 18 years in Kingston, emphasized an athletics culture rooted in excellence, transforming URI into one of the Atlantic 10’s most consistent and well-rounded member schools. Under his leadership, Rhode Island teams won 40 league championships, including 11 titles across six sports in the past three years—one of the strongest competitive stretches in school history.
Rhode Island’s athletics achievements during his tenure include landmark moments across multiple programs. The men’s basketball team won the 2017 Atlantic 10 Tournament title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship in consecutive years (2017 and 2018). Baseball claimed its first NCAA Regional victory in 2016, while men’s track and field and women’s rowing combined for numerous A-10 crowns and NCAA appearances. Recent highlights include women’s basketball’s first conference title, football’s 2024 CAA championship and return to the FCS postseason for the first time since 1985, and baseball’s A-10 championship and NCAA appearance this past spring.
In addition, last fall, URI student-athletes achieved a record 3.26 cumulative GPA, with over half earning Dean’s List honors. Community engagement is also is a hallmark of Rhody athletics, with URI student-athletes and coaches regularly contributing to local and statewide initiatives.
Last year URI secured $65.8 million in state funding to enhance athletics infrastructure and support upgrades to football, baseball, softball, track and field, soccer, and swimming facilities, and recently opened the $8 million Soloviev Basketball Practice Facility.
Nationally, Bjorn served as chair of the Atlantic 10 Athletics Directors and represented CAA Football on the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee. He also is a two-time NACDA FCS Athletics Director of the Year (2016, 2025).
URI President Parlange on Bjorn’s time at URI
“Thorr’s leadership has been instrumental in elevating Rhode Island athletics to new levels of competitive success, academic achievement, and community engagement,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “The remarkable achievements of our student-athletes and our teams reflect URI’s commitment to developing student-athletes who excel in all areas of their lives. Thorr and his wife, Cyndy, welcomed Mary and me to URI when we arrived in Kingston. They have been a constant source of friendship, and I am grateful to both of them for their countless contributions to URI and to our South County community. Mary and I wish them great success in this next chapter.”
Bjorn’s statement on his time at URI – last day Nov. 29th.
“As I close this remarkable 18-year chapter, I’m filled with gratitude for everyone who made this journey so special,” Bjorn said. “Thank you to President Bob Carothers for giving me a chance, to President David Dooley for 12 years of partnership, and to my friend President Marc Parlange for his belief and support that helped elevate URI Athletics. I’m also deeply grateful to the Board of Trustees, my leadership colleagues and our academic deans, and our elected state leaders for their strong support. To Rhody Nation—your unwavering spirit has been the heart of it all. To our dedicated staff, coaches, and thousands of student-athletes—you’ve inspired me every day. And to our season ticket holders, donors, and alumni—thank you for strengthening the Rhody family. Most of all, thank you to my wife, Cyndy, and our daughters, Stephanie, Robyn, and Rachael, for their love and support. I leave with nothing but gratitude.”
UMASS up ahead for Bjorn
In his new role at UMass, Bjorn will assume oversight of the school’s FBS football program and will assist with all administrative and managerial aspects of the athletics department, with a particular focus on external and public-facing units.
The return to Amherst, Massachusetts, is a homecoming of sorts for Bjorn. In addition to his decade and a half as a staff member, he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UMass and was a three-year letter winner in football for the Minutemen.
Bjorn will serve as the Chief Administrative Officer and oversee the football program. Thorr Bjorn ’90 and ’95 has been named Senior Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Administrative Officer at the University of Massachusetts, Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford announced on Wednesday. Bjorn, a former Minuteman football player, has spent the previous 18 years as the Director of Athletics at the University of Rhode Island.
“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,” said Bamford. “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 ten-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 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. In particular, Bjorn will help administer many of department’s external and public-facing units including sales, fan experience and marketing, communications and public relations, brand management and UMass Sports Properties.
Bjorn on returning to UMASS – assuming role on Dec. 1st
“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.”
Under the leadership of Bjorn, Rhode Island captured 40 league championships, and he was named NACDA FCS Athletic Director of the Year in both 2016 and 2025.
Before Rhode Island, Bjorn spent 15 years with the UMass athletics department, including four years as senior associate athletic director. He served as the day-to-day supervisor for football and ice hockey, oversaw both lacrosse programs, managed athletic marketing, corporate sales and ticket operations and acted as liaison to Global Spectrum, the management company for the Mullins Center. From September 2003 to February 2004, Bjorn served as the interim athletic director at UMass, overseeing all departmental operations and supervising 10 senior administrators along with the head coaches of football, men’s basketball and men’s ice hockey.
Bjorn was also an assistant athletic director for tickets and game operations at UMass from 1990 to 1996. He was then appointed associate athletic director for marketing in 1996, a position he held for four years. In 2000, he became director of regional sales and marketing for Resorts Sports Network in Portland, Maine, before returning to UMass in April 2003.
Bjorn earned both his bachelor’s degree in sports management and his master’s degree in higher education from the University of Massachusetts. He was a three-year letter winner in football for the Minutemen (1987-89).
“We remain committed to ensuring our student-athletes have the resources and support necessary to compete for championships, excel academically, and contribute meaningfully to the community, while also providing our alumni and loyal fans with experiences that strengthen their Rhody pride and engagement with URI,” Parlange said.
Bjorn is the 6th highest paid employee of the state of Rhode Island, with a salary at approx. $378K. Bjorn’s role was created specifically for him at UMass, and he is likely to serve as the #2 to Athletic Director Ryan Bamford, with a portfolio that blends business, finance, HR, and overall department administration. In MA, Bamford is the 3rd top highest paid with salary listed as $574K.
Additional Highlights From Rhode Island
Under Thorr Bjorn’s leadership, Rhode Island Athletics experienced unprecedented success in championships, academic achievement, fundraising, facility upgrades and community engagement.
Since 2022-23, URI won 11 championships in six sports, ranking among the top Atlantic 10 programs. Rhode Island student-athletes also set GPA highs and more than half earned Dean’s List honors in 2024.
Facility, capital investment and infrastructure growth defined much of Bjorn’s tenure. Since 2014, URI opened the Ryan Family Student-Athlete Center, completed and continue to make major upgrades at Meade Stadium and built the $8 million Soloviev Basketball Practice Facility. Bjorn helped fund the improvements by fundraising efforts, including securing the first $1 million gift in URI athletics history. Bjorn also revitalized URI’s corporate partnership programs, forging innovative deals and launching Rhody Sports Properties. In 2024, URI received $65.8 million in state support to continue upgrading athletic facilities.
During the 2015–16 academic year, three Rhode Island programs captured Atlantic 10 championships and baseball earned its first NCAA Regional victory. The Rams also set a new academic benchmark, with 42% of student-athletes earning Dean’s List honors and the department’s cumulative GPA surpassing 3.0 for the first time. The momentum continued in 2016–17, when men’s basketball won the A-10 Tournament Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. That same year, Bjorn’s leadership was recognized nationally as an Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
In 2017–18, Rhode Island claimed three conference titles in men’s basketball, men’s track, and women’s rowing, with the rowing staff earning national recognition for their accomplishments. The 2018–19 season brought even more milestones with men’s soccer and women’s rowing both advancing to the NCAA Championships, football posting its first winning season in 17 years, and a first round of major renovations to Meade Stadium completed to enhance both the fan and student-athlete experience.
Beyond campus, Bjorn has been a national leader in the ever-changing collegiate landscape, serving both as chair of the A-10 athletic directors and representing CAA Football on the NCAA FCS Championship Committee service as Chair in his final year on the committee.
Bjorn is married to Cyndy Bjorn, UMass class of ’93 and they have three daughters Stephanie Dufresne (Sam), Robyn Nemirow (Phil) and Rachael (Chris Gosselin) as well as two grandsons.