Conference realignment
In 2024, four West Coast teams will join UMD in the Big Ten: the University of Oregon, the University of Washington, the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles. Although it will add some difficulty to the Terps’ travel schedules, Evans said, he knows conference expansion is inevitable, especially after Maryland found itself in the same shoes when it left the Conference. Atlantic coast in 2014.
“I don’t think we knew how powerful the Big Ten was going to become,” he said, pointing to the financial benefits of joining the conference and its lucrative media rights deal. “There are two conferences that everyone is talking about participating in: the Big Ten and the SEC. The additions of Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA are great additions to an already elite conference.
Leading Through Adversity
Since the beginning of Evans’ tenure, Maryland Athletics and the university community have experienced much deeper challenges. In 2018, offensive lineman Jordan McNair collapsed from heatstroke during a team practice and died 15 days later.
Two independent external reviews helped change the course of Maryland Athletics. The department fired the football coach and two members of the coaching staff and implemented a series of 41 reforms, including developing venue-specific emergency action plans and making available cold water immersion for all sporting activities. The passage of a state law, the Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act, followed, and in 2021, UMD in partnershipwith the Jordan McNair Foundation, founded by his parents, Tonya Wilson and Martin McNair, to increase awareness of the health and safety of student-athletes.
“Through the tragedy, we learned some things about ourselves, some areas we needed to improve in,” Evans said. “I’m grateful for what the McNair Foundation is doing and that we can help him in some way and honor his memory and his legacy.”
Protecting the health of student-athletes, including their mental health, was of the utmost importance to Maryland Athletics during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the midst of a shortened season, empty stadiums, daily antigen tests and improved cardiac screeningcommunication was key to Evans’ approach.
This went beyond conversations with student-athletes to frequent Zoom calls with parents, staff, medical professionals and other Big Ten athletic directors to keep everyone informed of the latest guidance and decisions decision. Evans made it clear that any student-athlete who did not feel comfortable playing would remain on scholarship.
“Damon is very decisive and thoughtful and has great emotional intelligence, really all the characteristics you look for in a leader,” said Ohio State University athletic director Gene Smith. “In a world where we face so many problems, like COVID, he knows how to adjust and adapt.
In search of equality
