DALLAS (AP/CBSDFW) - SMU athletic director Steve Orsini has been fired, effective immediately.

School president R. Gerald Turner announced the move in a news release Thursday. There were no specific reasons given for the decision, which came only weeks after Orsini hired Hall of Fame basketball coach Larry Brown.

Turner says it became apparent to him that a change was necessary after several discussions over the last few weeks.  “While we both are committed to the support of our student-athletes and coaches, a unified effort is required for future progress in our athletics programs,” he said in the release.

Turner thanked Orsini for his contributions and said a national search would begin immediately to find a new athletic director.

Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs Tim Leonard will serve as the interim AD.

SMU is set to move from Conference USA to the Big East Conference in July 2013.

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