SEATTLE — Damon Evans is stepping down as Maryland’s athletic director to take the same position at Southern Methodist, according to people familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity to address a sensitive matter. The move, which was first reported by Yahoo, comes as the Maryland men’s basketball team is set to begin play in the NCAA tournament here Friday, and as the women’s basketball team is set to host its NCAA tournament opener Saturday in College Park.
Evans had been in negotiations with SMU since before the start of college basketball’s showcase events, and reports of his imminent departure gained traction Thursday when Terrapins men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard candidly addressed not signing a reworked contract in part because of the uncertainty surrounding Evans’s future.