Realignment Aftershock: Every New ACC Program Has a New AD

News of Cal’s Jim Knowlton retiring initially sparked the topic, with several insiders taking note of the unusual phenomenon. Now the only question is… why?

Conference transitions are complex, expensive, and often politically charged. ADs drive the extensive negotiations, logistics, and financial maneuvering. However, once the move is finalized—through scheduling changes, new revenue distributions, and program adjustments—leadership turnover becomes more common.

After 13 years at SMU, leading the school into the ACC era, Rick Hart stepped down in February 2025, citing it as “time for a new challenge.” Hart’s departure capped a transformative period that included an appearance in the ACC Championship Game and the school’s first College Football Playoff berth.

Longtime Stanford Athletic Director Bernard Muir stepped down at the end of the academic year, concluding a 13-year tenure that saw major athletic successes—33 national titles—but also mediocrity at times, program cuts, amid the historic conference shift to the ACC.

Finally, Jim Knowlton announced his retirement effective July 1, 2025. His tenure spanned the rise and fall of the Pac‑12 and ended with the school’s move to the ACC. Knowlton’s leadership delivered multiple national championships in Olympic sports, but also came with football and basketball struggles.

Needless to say, it’s a transformative time for each of the ACC’s newest member institutions, and the AD departures align with a broader realignment wave.

SMU, Cal, and Stanford all joined the ACC starting in 2024—Stanford and Cal after the Pac‑12’s collapse, SMU to elevate its athletic profile. Each transition came with its own set of growing pains, including reduced media revenue shares, extensive travel, and coaching changes.

Now, with all three original ADs stepping away, the future of the ACC enters a new phase. Their departures create openings for fresh leadership looking to contribute to breaking up the Big Ten and SEC’s superiority complex that has plagued college sports for years.