UMassHoops.com

Quick recap for those who might not know: Thorr Bjorn was a UM student and footballer, graduating in 1990. He played defensive tackle. He stayed with UM, working in the Athletic Department for many years, and was our interim AD in between Ian McCaw and John McCutcheon (in 2003-04). He worked for McCutcheon for a few years, then got the AD job at Rhody in summer 2007.

I just noticed that Rhody recently elevated his title, to VP for Athletics, and extended his contract thru Spring 2030.
https://atlantic10.com/news/2025/6/12/a ... ident.aspx

Congrats to him. He's a quality dude.

The Rhody board take on his elevated title and extension: https://keaneyblue.com/viewtopic.php?t=10398

Sidebar:
It didn't make his official football stats, but Thorr added one more tackle in his career, in Mullins in 1996.
https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id ... collegian1

^ My memory is that Thorr, who was a large lad, vaulted over the scorer's table - near the UMass bench - to do the takedown. Is that correct?

^ FWIW… my memory is that he was crouched next to the end of the scorer’s nearer the visitors bench and pounced from there.

LS - The view from your seat was much better than mine.

I remember hearing it on the radio, Coudn't believe what I was hearing. I don't think it ever happened before or after at any college basketball game. Those were the days.

Congrats, Thorr!

Thorr is a great guy! I have know him since he was an assistant ticket manger under Wally Novak during the Cage days !

doubledribble wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 8:34 pm Thorr is a great guy! I have know him since he was an assistant ticket manger under Wally Novak during the Cage days !

Wally Novak sounds like a fun Polish guy

inthescoop wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 10:20 pm

doubledribble wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 8:34 pm Thorr is a great guy! I have know him since he was an assistant ticket manger under Wally Novak during the Cage days !

Wally Novak sounds like a fun Polish guy

Sure is .. Polak from Hadley

doubledribble wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 8:34 pm Thorr is a great guy! I have know him since he was an assistant ticket manger under Wally Novak during the Cage days !

That’s how I met him as well.

Wally was a good man.

Yes indeed !

Today:

Thorr Bjorn @thorrbjorn
Anyone have some photos of the 1996 @UMassMBB game vs. Lasalle on 2/15 at the @MullinsCenter,
sometime in the 2nd half???? Asking for a friend!!!! We need to get some things cleared up!! @MarcusCamby23
@CoachCalArk

https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/1986096188064452992

Sources: UMass is hiring longtime Rhode Island athletic director Thorr Bjorn as the school’s new senior deputy athletic director. He’s a UMass football alum (1990), and he’ll oversee the football program at UMass.

Possibly an exit strategy for Bamford as well as we move forward.

Follow up tweet:
https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/1986096190874701838

Along with football admin duties, Bjorn will also be the Chief Administrative Officer. UMass AD Ryan Bamford recruited Bjorn, and the newly created position speaks to the priority of football on campus. He’s been URI AD for 18 years.

Wow.