Former Ohio State senior deputy athletic director Diana Sabau is leaving her post as Utah State’s athletic director to return to the Big Ten.
According to multiple reports, Maryland is hiring Sabau as its new senior deputy athletic director. She’ll work alongside new Maryland athletic director Jim Smith, who also previously worked at Ohio State as the president of its alumni association from 2016-20.
Utah State AD Diana Sabau is heading to Maryland as senior deputy AD to join new Terps AD James E. Smith, pairing his pro sports knowledge w/her college expertise, sources told @On3sports. Sabau returns to the Big Ten & brings her closer to home. 1st reported by College AD
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 9, 2025
As part of her role as Ohio State’s senior deputy AD, Sabau was the sport administrator for Ohio State football from 2017 until May 2021, when the Big Ten hired her as deputy commissioner and chief sports officer. She became the athletic director at Utah State in August 2023.
During her two years at the helm at Utah State, Sabau oversaw the hirings of new football (Bronco Mendenhall), men’s basketball (Jerrod Calhoun) and women’s basketball (former Ohio State assistant Wesley Brooks) head coaches. She also helped Utah State secure an invitation to the new Pac-12, which it will join next year.
