Thorr Bjorn

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Did UMass announce a reduction in Bamfords salary to offset Thorr taking over some of his duties?? Yeah.. didn't think so... gotta love UMass.. won't give a long time valued employee a 10k raise to stay because it's a boots on the ground job.. but will pay a guy 400k to do a job your AD can't do. This is why moral in the dept is so low. They won't replace hourly guys that have left or retired so the ones still there have to do more.. but they have no problem hiring administrator after administrator to insulate the AD.

They are really only paying him $234k, since he'll be taking on the AD job July 1st and Bamford will be off the books.

[Jack]

Did UMass announce a reduction in Bamfords salary to offset Thorr taking over some of his duties?? Yeah.. didn't think so... gotta love UMass.. won't give a long time valued employee a 10k raise to stay because it's a boots on the ground job.. but will pay a guy 400k to do a job your AD can't do. This is why moral in the dept is so low. They won't replace hourly guys that have left or retired so the ones still there have to do more.. but they have no problem hiring administrator after administrator to insulate the AD.

Bamford has a contract which I haven't read, but I seriously doubt that his contract provides that Bamford's salary is reduced if UMass hires a new SDAD & CAO. Furthermore, the bottom line is that if UMass wants to become relevant in the MAC, then UMass needs to make the financial and management commitment to winning football games. That is all about improving personnel and recruiting. It starts at the top where UMass was understaffed and not prepared to be a successful FBS program - the results speak for themselves: UMass presently lacks the personnel to be competitive in the MAC.

Hopefully hiring Thorr begins to address that issue and enables the football program to start winning MAC games. This is all about moving forward to becoming much more successful - I have confidence that hiring Thorr is a positive step in the right direction.

[Steve81]

Did UMass announce a reduction in Bamfords salary to offset Thorr taking over some of his duties?? Yeah.. didn't think so... gotta love UMass.. won't give a long time valued employee a 10k raise to stay because it's a boots on the ground job.. but will pay a guy 400k to do a job your AD can't do. This is why moral in the dept is so low. They won't replace hourly guys that have left or retired so the ones still there have to do more.. but they have no problem hiring administrator after administrator to insulate the AD.

Bamford has a contract which I haven't read, but I seriously doubt that his contract provides that Bamford's salary is reduced if UMass hires a new SDAD & CAO. Furthermore, the bottom line is that if UMass wants to become relevant in the MAC, then UMass needs to make the financial and management commitment to winning football games. That is all about improving personnel and recruiting. It starts at the top where UMass was understaffed and not prepared to be a successful FBS program - the results speak for themselves: UMass presently lacks the personnel to be competitive in the MAC.

Hopefully hiring Thorr begins to address that issue and enables the football program to start winning MAC games. This is all about moving forward to becoming much more successful - I have confidence that hiring Thorr is a positive step in the right direction.

Agree and very good post Jack. I was beginning to be less confident about the size of my U Script Football donation. The hire and the message has solidified the U Script donation. Part of me wants to give it around January 4th, but uncertain if it is just symbolic and should be done on UMass Gives in the later portion of April. Current thought is to do half and half until I talk with Kristi Lawless

[MikeUMA]

Thorr joined Rene and Christian this week on The Flagship Pod
https://www.minutemancommand.com/p/the- ... hare=false

[doubledribble]

Announced today.
The University of Rhode Island has launched a national search for its next vice president and director of athletics, appointing a 13-member committee to identify candidates equipped to lead the respected Division I department in a fast-changing college sports landscape.

The national search follows an announcement in early November that the University’s longtime athletics director Thorr Bjorn is stepping down from the role.

The University will engage a national firm with deep expertise in executive searches to help facilitate the hiring process. A review of identified firms is underway, with a selection expected by early December.

[TheInsider]

Good interview from Thorr.. wouldn't expect anything less from him. I don't think he's the Bamford replacement. I think he's perfectly happy in this role. They are friends, and instead of doing all the AD B.S. Thorr gets to just work football. Probably a dream scenario for him. Make equal or better money and do something you are passionate about until you retire.

[gorhody]

Just a short and sweet reasoning and tribute to Thorr from someone who knew him well

https://youtu.be/dUaAB2PwkDs?si=Dcf53zhzolAa-K6x

[inthescoop]

Why? Less work, more money. Easy decision.

[TheInsider]

^^^ This.. him taking over for Bamford as the AD is a pipe dream.. Unless basketball finishes 8th in the MAC and Bamford finally gets canned. At that point I'm sure Thorr will be in play.

[Quann]

URI football looking pretty awesome right now. Think I’d rather have the guy responsible for that program in charge of this entire sports program.

[TheInsider]

Totally agree.. just wouldn't get my hopes up. Unless BBall is a total dumpster fire, which isn't out of the question.

[Quann]

Mike, Thorr's hire is a football move and belongs on the football forum.

No, it belongs here. He will be the AD by July 1st.

I'll play, move to football forum, then if that happens, which I don't think so, move it to General discussion. This is not Other Sports as lacrosse, track and field, soccer etc

Agreed this should be moved to the football forum Mike. Thorr is now the defacto UMass Football czar, he supposedly has no input on any other sports.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

No, it belongs here. He will be the AD by July 1st.

I'll play, move to football forum, then if that happens, which I don't think so, move it to General discussion. This is not Other Sports as lacrosse, track and field, soccer etc

Agreed this should be moved to the football forum Mike. Thorr is now the defacto UMass Football czar, he supposedly has no input on any other sports.

That's not accurate.

https://umassathletics.com/news/2025/11 ... c-director

... He will assist Bamford and Deputy AD/COO Kirsten Britton with all administrative and managerial aspects of the athletics department. In particular, Bjorn will help administer many of department's external and public-facing units including sales, fan experience and marketing, communications and public relations, brand management and UMass Sports Properties. He will assume his role at UMass on Dec. 1.

Bamford also specifically stated in the press conference that he was here for more than just football.

[eldonabe]

I'll play, move to football forum, then if that happens, which I don't think so, move it to General discussion. This is not Other Sports as lacrosse, track and field, soccer etc

Agreed this should be moved to the football forum Mike. Thorr is now the defacto UMass Football czar, he supposedly has no input on any other sports.

That's not accurate.

https://umassathletics.com/news/2025/11 ... c-director

... He will assist Bamford and Deputy AD/COO Kirsten Britton with all administrative and managerial aspects of the athletics department. In particular, Bjorn will help administer many of department's external and public-facing units including sales, fan experience and marketing, communications and public relations, brand management and UMass Sports Properties. He will assume his role at UMass on Dec. 1.

Bamford also specifically stated in the press conference that he was here for more than just football.

Clearly he is not a good multi-tasker

[MikeUMA]

Yesterday was Day 1 for Thorr officially in his new role. Tons of work ahead of him to get us out of the bottom of the FBS barrel.