The search has begun for a new person in charge of SMU’s athletic department. After over a decade as the Mustangs' athletic director, Rick Hart announced Friday that he would be leaving his role at the end of the school year to make way for new president Jay Hartzell to carry out his vision for SMU athletics.

Hart leaves what's expected to be a highly sought-after job following SMU's conference switch and CFP appearance.

Athletic Director Rick Hart announced in a statement Friday he will be stepping down from his position after more than a decade leading the Mustangs. Hartzell will now get the chance to bring in his own athletic director when he officially takes over as president on June 1.

SMU announced Hart's departure on Friday, marking an end to Hart's 12-plus years on the Hilltop. He'll stay in the role until a new athletics director is hired and on campus, but this will be his last academic year at SMU, the announcement said.

SMU athletics director Rick Hart announced Friday he will step down at the conclusion of the 2024-25 academic year. A third-generation athletics administrator, Hart has been SMU's athletics director since 2012. From a football perspective, the Hart era has been a successful one on the Hilltop:

SMU athletics director Rick Hart is set to retire at the end of the year, could Texas AD Chris Del Conte follow President Jay Hartzell to SMU?