Colleen Sorem named Executive Deputy Athletics Director
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2025 1:29 amFrom SMUMustangs.com:
Colleen Sorem named Executive Deputy Athletics Director
DALLAS (SMU) - Colleen Sorem has been named Executive Deputy Athletics Director by SMU Director of Athletics Damon Evans. Sorem will serve as the Chief Administrative Officer for SMU Athletics and lead and manage all administrative operations for the department budget. In addition, Sorem will be responsible for Human Resources, Legal Affairs and will assist with day-to-day operations for athletics. She will also evaluate revenue streams and provide strategic financial guidance."
"Colleen has consistently demonstrated great leadership and innovation throughout her career," Evans said. "Her understanding of intercollegiate athletics and its changing landscape will make her an incredibly valuable part of our executive team. I am looking forward to working with her as we build upon the Mustang momentum."
Sorem comes to the Hilltop after 11 years at the University of Maryland, most recently leading the department as the Interim Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics since March. Prior to that she served as Maryland's Senior Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer. She added the role of COO in July 2023 after being named Deputy Athletic Director in July of 2018. In the spring of 2025, Sorem was appointed to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee.
At Maryland, Sorem supervised the football and women's basketball programs and was responsible for implementing strategies for internal and external initiatives, including revenue generation, contract negotiations, football scheduling, creating operating efficiencies, enhancing the student-athlete experience and ensuring continued acclimation into the Big Ten Conference. She developed and implemented a new financial model for long-term financial stability and assisted with the oversight and construction management of the $196M New Cole Field House project, including Jones-Hill House.
Her time at Maryland included oversight of business operations, facilities, events and operations, human resources, and information technology. Sorem played a key role in the new multimedia rights agreement ($30M increase) and managed financing solutions technology enhancements at XFINITY Center ($5M), a baseball turf ($2.5M) and a new volleyball ($1M) locker room. Sorem served as the Associate Athletic Director for Business Operations from 2014-2016.
Prior to Maryland, Sorem was the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Finance and Operations at Towson University. She also spent four years at Florida Gulf Coast University, serving as Assistant Athletics Director and then Associate Athletics Director for Business Operations. She joined the FGCU staff in 2008 after six years at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, finishing as Assistant Athletics Director for Business Operations.
Sorem graduated from James Madison University in 2000 with a bachelor of science in kinesiology and a minor in business, before obtaining her masters in sports administration at the University of Alabama in 2002. She is a native of Manassas, Virginia.
Colleen Sorem named Executive Deputy Athletics Director
DALLAS (SMU) - Colleen Sorem has been named Executive Deputy Athletics Director by SMU Director of Athletics Damon Evans. Sorem will serve as the Chief Administrative Officer for SMU Athletics and lead and manage all administrative operations for the department budget. In addition, Sorem will be responsible for Human Resources, Legal Affairs and will assist with day-to-day operations for athletics. She will also evaluate revenue streams and provide strategic financial guidance."
"Colleen has consistently demonstrated great leadership and innovation throughout her career," Evans said. "Her understanding of intercollegiate athletics and its changing landscape will make her an incredibly valuable part of our executive team. I am looking forward to working with her as we build upon the Mustang momentum."
Sorem comes to the Hilltop after 11 years at the University of Maryland, most recently leading the department as the Interim Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics since March. Prior to that she served as Maryland's Senior Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer. She added the role of COO in July 2023 after being named Deputy Athletic Director in July of 2018. In the spring of 2025, Sorem was appointed to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee.
At Maryland, Sorem supervised the football and women's basketball programs and was responsible for implementing strategies for internal and external initiatives, including revenue generation, contract negotiations, football scheduling, creating operating efficiencies, enhancing the student-athlete experience and ensuring continued acclimation into the Big Ten Conference. She developed and implemented a new financial model for long-term financial stability and assisted with the oversight and construction management of the $196M New Cole Field House project, including Jones-Hill House.
Her time at Maryland included oversight of business operations, facilities, events and operations, human resources, and information technology. Sorem played a key role in the new multimedia rights agreement ($30M increase) and managed financing solutions technology enhancements at XFINITY Center ($5M), a baseball turf ($2.5M) and a new volleyball ($1M) locker room. Sorem served as the Associate Athletic Director for Business Operations from 2014-2016.
Prior to Maryland, Sorem was the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Finance and Operations at Towson University. She also spent four years at Florida Gulf Coast University, serving as Assistant Athletics Director and then Associate Athletics Director for Business Operations. She joined the FGCU staff in 2008 after six years at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, finishing as Assistant Athletics Director for Business Operations.
Sorem graduated from James Madison University in 2000 with a bachelor of science in kinesiology and a minor in business, before obtaining her masters in sports administration at the University of Alabama in 2002. She is a native of Manassas, Virginia.