New AD Ross Bjork focused on athletic, academic excellence at Texas A&M

Ross Bjork compares his newest position to one he played in college.

To be more specific, the task Bjork faces as Texas A&M’s Athletic Director has similarities to playing fullback, which he did at Emporia State University back in the early ’90s.

Speaking via telephone from the Southeastern Conference spring meetings in Destin, Florida on Tuesday afternoon, the 46-year-old Bjork said his job is to accomplish the unseen work that helps others excel.

“I believe that one of the most important things I do as an athletic director is to make sure we have right coaches and staff,” he said. “They impact our student athletes directly. We have to have the right people in all facets.

“Let’s give these coaches and student athletes the best resources so they can achieve to maximum capability. An athletic director is a facilitator in that,” Bjork added. “Hopefully, I can gather resources and stay out of the way. Its kind of like being a fullback. Set the table for the tailback to run and the quarterback to make that pass.”

Bjork, who previously held the athletic director position at Ole Miss since 2012, will arrive in College Station next Monday and will get started in earnest in his position in early July. 

“I don't even know where my office is yet,” he said. “But I’ve been in the league (SEC). I‘ve seen A&M up close. I think you have to get into the inner workings, understand the budget and take a tour of the facilities. I want to took at every locker room, training room, toilet, dressing room — every nook and cranny.”

Quite frankly, there doesn't seem to be a major rush for him to take over because the A&M’s athletic department is in such good shape.

Jimbo Fisher is entering his second season as football coach after a 9-4 showing last season. A few months ago Buzz Williams was perhaps the most notable hire in college basketball. The baseball team is entering the NCAA Tournament.

Kyle Field is among the swankiest stadiums in college football. The same goes for Blue Bell Park in college baseball. Track & field and softball boast brand new stadiums.

“I believe there is a lot of momentum at A&M,” Bjork said. “The new hires of Jimbo and Buzz Williams, obviously, the facility development, you have the power of 500,000 former students. That doesn’t exist except at only a handful of opportunities. I’m walking into a situation with a ton of momentum.

“We’re already in the Top 5 in many categories. Yet, there is still room to grow. It’s exciting to be able to turn on all the unbelievable resources that are there and then get to next level and competing for national championships.

“It’s like golf today. We got into (NCAA Tournament) match play. Even though we lost, we got there. That’s what it's about: Getting to a place where you’re winning consistently. I believe I’m walking into a terrific situation.”

That situation is enhanced because A&M has made a commitment to field championship caliber sports teams.

That was also Bjork’s vision for Ole Miss, which played in two New Year’s Day football bowls, reached the NCAA men's basketball tournament three times and advanced to baseball’s College World Series during his tenure in Oxford.

“The vision I have is the same I had at Ole Miss. We want to be No. 1 academically and athletically,” Bjork said. “That’s going to be the basis of everything we do. We’ll have core values of the athletic department. 

"But that’s got to be the overarching theme: to be No. 1 academically and athletically and then put the fundamentals into place — resources, the right staff, student athlete well-being and making sure you’re setting (athletes) up for life after sports.”

A&M already believes it has the right staffs in place in most sports, especially football with Fisher at the helm. Bjork said he got acquainted with Fisher at last year’s SEC spring meetings. He then he became even more optimistic about possibilities at A&M after further speaking with Fisher.

“I’m a student of college athletics and have always followed Jimbo and his leadership and his pathway to success,” Bjork said. “In the talks we’ve had I realize we see things very similarly.

“We’re small college football guys. He’s a quarterback. I’m a fullback. I see things straight ahead with a fullback’s mentality. I want to attack to build to a high level and win championships. He sees things the same way. I can tell we're wired in a similar manner.”