New Beginnings at Long Beach State
LONG BEACH, Calif.. – San Diego State’s long-time executive associate athletic director Bobby Smitheran has been named Long Beach State’s executive director of athletics, the school announced earlier Tuesday.
Long Beach State’s vice president and chief financial officer, Scott Apel, made the formal announcement that makes Bobby Smitheran the school’s 13th athletic director.
Smitheran’s first official day will be August 21st.
Accomplished Tenure at San Diego State
Bobby Smitheran has spent the last fifteen years at San Diego State, most recently and most notably as the Aztecs’ executive associate athletic director overseeing the academic support services, which services nearly 500 student-athletes. Smitheran, who also had a stint as the San Diego State director of football operations, also has been overseeing sports medicine, strength and conditioning, student-athlete development and drug testing.
Prior to SDSU, Bobby Smitheran worked as a compliance coordinator at the University of North Texas and as an assistant athletic director for compliance at UC Irvine.
Challenges Await: Budget Concerns and Staff Changes
Smitheran may have his hands full at Long Beach State. The first-time athletic director will be busy tackling post-COVID budget and onboarding new coaches. According to the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database, LBSU athletics posted a budget deficit of about $4.4 million in 2022. This off-season, LBSU saw its baseball coach and women’s basketball coach bolt for St. Mary’s.