New Maryland AD Jim Smith offers a unique blend of college and professional histories, and he has deep connections to the Big Ten.

Jim Smith has been named the next athletic director at Maryland, the school announced Thursday morning, bringing to College Park a longtime executive in both the professional and college sports ranks who most recently served as the Atlanta Braves’ senior vice president of business strategy.

Maryland is expected to hire Atlanta Braves executive Jim Smith as the school's next athletic director, sources told ESPN. A deal is expected to be finalized in the near future, per sources.