SMU Fires AD Steve Orsini

SMU athletic director Steve Orsini was fired Thursday, just four short weeks after he and the Mustangs hired Hall of Fame basketball coach Larry Brown to lead its men’s program.

The move was announced by SMU President R. Gerald Turner in a news release, and was effective immediately.

“After several discussions over the last few weeks, it became apparent to me that it was necessary to make this change,” Turner said. “While we both are committed to the support of our student-athletes and coaches, a unified effort is required for future progress in our athletics programs.”

A national search for Orsini’s replacement has already begun.

Orsini had served as SMU’s athletic director since 2006, and was given a contract extension through May 2015 in January 2011.

SMU is set to move from Conference USA to the Big East in July 2013.