Utah State AD Diana Sabau departs for Maryland
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on July 18 to reflect new information.
Utah State University Athletic Director Diana Sabau is set to leave Logan later this month to become the next athletic director at the University of Maryland, capping a two-year tenure with USU Athletics.
Sabau, who has served as Utah State’s vice president and director of athletics since August 2023, will officially conclude her time at USU on July 21. Her departure was announced in a press release by Interim President Alan L. Smith, who lauded her for her leadership and the momentum she is leaving behind.
“I deeply appreciate Diana Sabau for her exceptional leadership and the significant momentum she has built within the USU athletic program,” Smith said. “From guiding the university through its transition from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 to leading the most ambitious athletics fundraising campaign in our university’s history, Diana has positioned USU strongly on the national stage and laid a solid foundation for future success.”
Under Sabau’s leadership, athletics experienced a period of transformation. Most notably, in September 2024, the university accepted an invitation to join the Pac-12 Conference, a move seen as a significant milestone in the school’s athletic evolution. The shift positions Utah State for long-term stability and competitiveness amid a rapidly changing college sports landscape.
The Aggies claimed six conference championships under Sabau, including a school-record four during the 2023-24 academic year, with titles in women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, men’s tennis and women’s soccer. The gymnastics program also captured its first Mountain West title, while women’s soccer repeated as MW tournament champions in 2024-25.
During her time at USU, Sabau brought in Jerrod Calhoun to lead men’s basketball, resulting in a 26-8 season and a berth in the NCAA tournament as a No. 10 seed. Bronco Mendenhall was hired in December 2024 to head the football program, and women’s basketball welcomed Wesley Brooks as its new leader. Sabau also secured the continued leadership of Calhoun through a contract extension and women’s soccer head coach Manny Martins with a contract extension through 2027.
In the realm of fundraising and infrastructure, Sabau helped ignite the “Reach and Rise” campaign, the most ambitious athletics fundraising initiative in Utah State history. To date, the campaign has secured nearly $29 million in gifts and pledges. Athletics also saw record-breaking NIL contributions during the 2024 A Day of Giving and the first-ever “Match Madness” event tied to the NCAA tournament.
Academics were a focal point of Sabau’s tenure as well. During the 2024-25 academic year, a department-record 266 student-athletes earned Whitesides Scholar-Athlete honors. The department achieved its highest-ever GPA figures — 3.57 for the spring 2025 term and a cumulative GPA of 3.51 — marking the 46th consecutive term USU student-athletes maintained a 3.0 or higher.
Reflecting on her time at Utah State, Sabau expressed gratitude and pride.
“I am grateful for my time at Utah State University and all we accomplished, from fundraising milestones to conference championships and success beyond the playing fields, including our outstanding academic accomplishments,” Sabau said. “Our mission over the past two years has been to modernize the athletics department and position Utah State for long-term success while building a championship culture for USU student-athletes.”
She also noted the personal and professional draw of her new position: “The opportunity at the University of Maryland takes me back to a conference I love and a high-functioning Power 4 environment in a region where I have spent most of my athletics career.”
As Sabau prepares her return to the East Coast and joins the Big Ten’s Maryland Terrapins, Utah State will begin a search for interim leadership to ensure continuity. Smith emphasized the university’s commitment to finding a strong interim director to maintain the current momentum.
Utah State University announced on July 18 the appointment of Sandy Barbour as interim athletic director, effective July 21. Barbour brings more than 40 years of experience, having held leadership roles at powerhouses like Cal, Notre Dame, Tulane, Northwestern and most notably, Penn State, where she served as the AD from 2014–22. Under her leadership, Penn State saw multiple national titles, significant facility enhancements and early adoption of NIL policies. Her operational savvy was recognized in 2022 when Sports Business Journal named her Athletic Director of the Year.
To guide the Aggies’ transition into the Pac‑12 by July 2026, Smith and Barbour have established an ad hoc advisory committee co-chaired by Barbour and alumnus Doug Fiefia. This committee —comprised of student-athletes, alumni, donors, faculty and community members — is charged with defining the qualifications and stakeholder engagement strategies for USU’s next permanent athletic director. Their recommendations, due in early August, will inform the launch of a full national search. Until then, Barbour and her team at Huron, a consulting firm for universities and athletic departments, will focus on maintaining momentum, upholding financial sustainability and bolstering NIL strategy as USU prepares for competition at the next level.
This article will be updated as more information is announced.