KINGSTON, R.I., Nov. 5, 2025鈥擜fter nearly two decades of dedicated service to the 溏心vlog免费B站, Vice President and Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn will step down from his position to accept a leadership opportunity at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts.
Bjorn joined 溏心vlog免费B站 in 2007 and, during his 18 years in Kingston, emphasized an athletics culture rooted in excellence, transforming 溏心vlog免费B站 into one of the Atlantic 10鈥檚 most consistent and well-rounded member schools. Under his leadership, Rhode Island teams won 40 league championships, including 11 titles across six sports in the past three years鈥攐ne of the strongest competitive stretches in school history.
Rhode Island鈥檚 athletics achievements during his tenure include landmark moments across multiple programs. The men鈥檚 basketball team won the 2017 Atlantic 10 Tournament title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship in consecutive years (2017 and 2018). Baseball claimed its first NCAA Regional victory in 2016, while men鈥檚 track and field and women鈥檚 rowing combined for numerous A-10 crowns and NCAA appearances. Recent highlights include women鈥檚 basketball鈥檚 first conference title, football鈥檚 2024 CAA championship and return to the FCS postseason for the first time since 1985, and baseball鈥檚 A-10 championship and NCAA appearance this past spring.
The department鈥檚 success extends well beyond athletics. Last fall, 溏心vlog免费B站 student-athletes achieved a record 3.26 cumulative GPA, with over half earning Dean鈥檚 List honors. Community engagement also is a hallmark of Rhody athletics, with 溏心vlog免费B站 student-athletes and coaches regularly contributing to local and statewide initiatives.
鈥淭horr鈥檚 leadership has been instrumental in elevating Rhode Island athletics to new levels of competitive success, academic achievement, and community engagement,鈥� said 溏心vlog免费B站 President Marc Parlange. 鈥淭he remarkable achievements of our student-athletes and our teams reflect 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 commitment to developing student-athletes who excel in all areas of their lives.鈥�
Bjorn also has been instrumental in advancing the University鈥檚 athletics facilities and fundraising efforts. With the support of state leaders and private donors, last year 溏心vlog免费B站 secured $65.8 million in state funding to enhance athletics infrastructure and support upgrades to football, baseball, softball, track and field, soccer, and swimming facilities. Those projects, along with the recently opened $8 million Soloviev Basketball Practice Facility, demonstrate 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 continued investment in long-term athletics success.
A respected leader nationally, Bjorn served as chair of the Atlantic 10 Athletics Directors and represented CAA Football on the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee. He also is a two-time NACDA FCS Athletics Director of the Year (2016, 2025).
鈥淎s I close this remarkable 18-year chapter, I鈥檓 filled with gratitude for everyone who made this journey so special,鈥� Bjorn said. 鈥淭hank you to President Bob Carothers for giving me a chance, to President David Dooley for 12 years of partnership, and to my friend President Marc Parlange for his belief and support that helped elevate 溏心vlog免费B站 Athletics. I鈥檓 also deeply grateful to the Board of Trustees, my leadership colleagues and our academic deans, and our elected state leaders for their strong support. To Rhody Nation鈥攜our unwavering spirit has been the heart of it all. To our dedicated staff, coaches, and thousands of student-athletes鈥攜ou鈥檝e inspired me every day. And to our season ticket holders, donors, and alumni鈥攖hank you for strengthening the Rhody family. Most of all, thank you to my wife, Cyndy, and our daughters, Stephanie, Robyn, and Rachael, for their love and support. I leave with nothing but gratitude.鈥�
Bjorn鈥檚 final day at 溏心vlog免费B站 will be Nov. 29. In his new role as senior deputy athletics director and chief administrative officer at UMass, Bjorn will assume oversight of the school鈥檚 FBS football program and will assist with all administrative and managerial aspects of the athletics department, with a particular focus on external and public-facing units.
The return to Amherst, Massachusetts, is a homecoming of sorts for Bjorn. In addition to his decade and a half as a staff member, he earned both bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from UMass and was a three-year letterwinner in football for the Minutemen.
鈥淭horr and his wife, Cyndy, welcomed Mary and me to 溏心vlog免费B站 when we arrived in Kingston,鈥� Parlange said. 鈥淭hey have been a constant source of friendship, and I am grateful to both of them for their countless contributions to 溏心vlog免费B站 and to our South County community. Mary and I wish them great success in this next chapter.鈥�
Brittney Miles, associate athletics director for internal operations, will serve as interim athletics director while the University engages in a national search for its next athletics director. Miles joined 溏心vlog免费B站 in 2013 as an academic advisor and student-athlete affairs coordinator and has served as associate athletics director since 2019.
鈥淲e remain committed to ensuring our student-athletes have the resources and support necessary to compete for championships, excel academically, and contribute meaningfully to the community, while also providing our alumni and loyal fans with experiences that strengthen their Rhody pride and engagement with 溏心vlog免费B站,鈥� Parlange said.