Rick Hart is stepping down after 13 years as athletic director at SMU, which in the past year completed its long-desired move into a power conference by becoming a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

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

Hart has served in the role since 2012 and led the Mustangs in their transition to a power conference. His announcement comes shortly after President

Southern Methodist University announced athletic director Rick Hart will step down later this year. After 13 years of service, Hart has decided to embark on a new challenge after the university reached it's long-sought goal of transitioning into a power conference.

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: