Ross Bjork is expected to be named the new athletics director at Texas A&M University, a source confirmed to SportsTalkMississippi. Ben Baby of the Dallas Morning News was first to report the news.
Texas A&M officially announced the hire late Thursday evening.
Ross Bjork announced as Texas A&M’s new Director of Athletics: https://t.co/FSNMjT6U1W #tamu #12thMan pic.twitter.com/mj4UpxNKdb
— Texas A&M University (@TAMU) May 24, 2019
Bjork has served as Miss vice chancellor for collegiate athletics at Ole Miss since since April of 2012.
Bjork oversaw the building of the Pavilion at Ole Miss, and the Rebels have seen rises in softball, men’s and women’s golf and basketball during his tenure.
“We will forever cherish our time at Ole Miss and in Oxford,” Bjork said in a statement. “I want to thank Dan Jones, Archie Manning and Mike Glenn for giving me the opportunity to be an Ole Miss Rebel in 2012. I am proud of the athletics accomplishments and the infrastructure improvements we were able to achieve during the last seven years, but I am most proud of our student-athletes. They always believed they could achieve greatness in the classroom, and now Ole Miss Athletics has the highest grade point average, graduation rates and APR scores in the history of the program. Despite some challenges along the way, Ole Miss is a great place, and I appreciate all of the support that every Chancellor has provided and especially my strong relationship with Larry Sparks. We have built lifelong friendships and will always revere our time as Rebels.”
Ole Miss is without the services of an acting permanent chancellor and will like center its focus on hiring a chancellor before hiring Bjork’s replacement.
Bjork hired Matt Luke as the football coach in 2017, removing the interim tag Luke held during the 2017 season after Hugh Freeze resign amid scandal. Bjork hired Kermit Davis as the basketball coach in 2018 and Mike Smith as the softball coach in 2014.
Bjork was expected in Hoover on Thursday for Ole Miss’ baseball game against Texas A&M, but never appeared at the stadium.
Bjork was instrumental in Ole Miss upgrading multiple athletics facilities across campus, including the construction of the $96 million Pavilion.
“Ross has been an outstanding leader of Ole Miss Athletics. Our programs and our university are stronger for his service to Rebel Nation,” interim chancellor Larry Sparks said. “Under Ross’s direction, we won SEC and national championships and improved our athletics facilities significantly while, at the same time, our student-athletes have achieved unprecedented success in the classroom. I’ve enjoyed working with Ross a great deal, and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
