Diana Sabau exits as Utah State University Athletics Director for new role in Maryland

LOGAN, Utah (ABC4) — Just a day after reports that Utah State University Athletics Director Diana Sabau was set to leave her position came out, USU officials confirmed the move.

USU Interim President Al Smith said Sabau will leave Utah State on July 21, 2025, to accept a new position at the University of Maryland.

“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 in a statement. “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.”

The university said it was focused on identifying a strong interim leader who will “bring stability to the program and support USU’s continued momentum.” More information on who will lead USU’s athletics department will be shared as that search continues.

Sabau, who served as the first full-time female athletic director in Utah State history, has held the position since August 2023. During her time with Utah State, the school’s athletics department joined the Pac-12 Conference and brought home six conference championships in women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, men’s tennis and women’s soccer.

She also hired two men’s basketball coaches, including Danny Sprinkle, who left Utah State after one season for Washington, and current head coach Jerrod Calhoun. Under Calhoun, the Aggies finished the 2024-25 season 26-8 and 15-5 in Mountain West play, earning the No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Despite the successes, Sabau’s two-year tenure with USU also saw its fair share of difficulties. Last summer, just before the start of the season, Sabau fired head football coach Blake Anderson after he reportedly failed to report sexual assault allegations by a player. In December, she hired Utah-native Bronco Mendenhall, bringing him back to the Beehive State after his successful tenures with Virginia and New Mexico.

Sabau said she is extremely grateful to USU’s student-athletes and the opportunity in Maryland takes her back to a conference she loves and a region where she spent most of her athletics career.

“I deeply appreciate Diana Sabau for her exceptional leadership and the significant momentum she has built within the USU athletic program,” said President Smith. “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.”

According to reports, the buyout of Sabau’s contract with USU is $500,000.

Dana Greene contributed to this report.