COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland has hired Damon Evans as its senior associate athletics director/chief financial officer, director of athletics Kevin Anderson announced Friday.
As the director of athletics at the University of Georgia from 2004-10, Evans managed a program with 600 student-athletes, an $85 million budget and a staff of 250. The Bulldogs won 12 national championships and 19 SEC titles during Evans' tenure. Under Evans' guidance, Georgia annually finished in the top 10 in the Learfield Director's Cup and also amassed $65 million for the athletic department's reserve fund, an increase of over $56 million in just a six-year period.
“Damon has an extensive background in college athletics as a top administrator at one of the premier programs in the country,” Anderson said. “His overall scope of work and experience in financial management, product development, fundraising, and managing athletic programs make him an outstanding addition at the University of Maryland.”
"I am extremely excited and privileged to be joining the Terrapin Family,” Evans said. “I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Kevin. I look forward to assisting him and his team with continuing to grow Maryland Athletics. Words cannot express my gratitude and deep appreciation for this opportunity.
In 2009, Evans was named the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year for the Division I Southeast Region. He earned the Sports Business Journal's “Forty Under 40” award in 2004, 2005 and 2007. The May 5, 2003 edition of Sports Illustrated rated Evans as one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports.”
Evans maintained multiple leadership positions outside of his work in Athens, serving as the first-ever chair of the NCAA Leadership Council from 2008-10. Evans was also the Capital Campaign Chairman of the Boys & Girls Club of Athens from 2005-09.
Student-athletes achieved the highest-ever Graduation Success Rate at Georgia in his final year as director of athletics. The year prior, Evans oversaw a 13th consecutive year of higher licensing royalties. The 2007-08 year elicited record donations of $29.5 million to the William C. Hartman, Jr. Fund, the membership and ticket priority program for the sport of football at Georgia.
In Evans' second year as director of athletics, Georgia was recognized as the “Nation's Most Profitable Intercollegiate Athletics Program,” according to an EADA report.
Evans' first year as director of athletics saw Georgia post a record fundraising total of $32 million, achieve record-setting logo license revenue, and negotiate a new eight-year marketing rights agreement with ISP Sports with guaranteed revenues of $93 million.
Most recently Evans was a managing partner at Evolution Sports Partners in New Jersey. The new business focused on technology, analytics, and consulting services for athletic organizations.
Evans was also the vice president of fundraising at IMG College in Winston-Salem, N.C. He was tasked with developing the company's fundraising arm which provided resources to institutions that would allow for the execution of a fundraising strategy. Evans was also the vice president of business development at the Markley Group in Boston from August 2010 - March 2013.
A four-year starter on Georgia's football team, Evans played in three bowl games under legendary head coach Vince Dooley. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance in 1992 and a master's degree of education in sports management in 1994, both from Georgia.
Evans and his wife Kerri have two children, Cameron and Kennedy. Evans will assume his new role at Maryland beginning Monday, December 1.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT DAMON EVANS
“Damon is a talented and forward-looking leader. He will bring a significant advantage to any athletic department that brings him on to its team.”
-- Dr. Michael F. Adams, Former University of Georgia President
“Damon is an excellent administrator with outstanding leadership qualities. I first realized Damon was a special and talented young man when I was recruiting him as a student-athlete at the University of Georgia. Damon made a seamless transition from a student-athlete to a top-flight administrator in college athletics. I entrusted Damon with a great deal of responsibility as a senior associate early in his career at Georgia and he made an immediate impact. With his prospective on our athletic department's financial outlook, Damon was able to elevate Georgia to new heights and make us one of the preeminent athletic departments in the nation. I am very happy and excited for both Damon and the University of Maryland."
-- Vince Dooley, College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 1994) and Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach, University of Georgia
“Damon is an excellent administrator with an innovative mind who has always been committed to the student-athlete experience. He will be a great asset to the Maryland athletics program.”
-- Michael Slive, Commissioner, Southeastern Conference
“I want to commend Kevin Anderson on his naming of Damon Evans as the new CFO at Maryland. Damon has a great background in intercollegiate athletics, especially during his tenure at the University of Georgia. Damon has paid his dues in more ways than one, and once again, I applaud the decision.”
-- Mike Cleary, Director Emeritus, NACDA
