Maryland is expected to hire Atlanta Braves executive Jim Smith as its next athletic director, sources confirmed to CBS Sports. Smith currently serves as the Braves' senior vice president for business strategy. He replaces Damon Evans, who left to become SMU's athletic director in March.

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.

The University of Maryland is going pro. James E. Smith, a top Atlanta Braves executive for five years, is taking the reins of the Terps' athletic program, with his sights set on building Big Ten dominance.