SMU athletics director Rick Hart is set to retire at the end of the year, could Texas AD Chris Del Conte follow President Jay Hartzell to SMU?

Rick Hart is stepping down after 13 years as athletic director at SMU, which in the past year completed its long-desired move into a power conference by becoming a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

SMU athletic director Rick Hart will step down from his position near the end of the current academic year, the university announced Friday. He will continue to serve as athletic director until SMU can identify a replacement.