"I have a great deal of respect for Notre Dame, its administration and its athletics department, but I am committed to staying at SMU," Orsini said in a statement. "There is tremendous potential on the Hilltop, and I am excited about the future here. I want to thank our administration for its continued support and reiterate our goal of becoming a top-25 athletic department."

"I am pleased to announce that Steve Orsini will remain at SMU as director of athletics," school president Dr. R. Gerald Turner said in a statement released by the school. "I met with Steve Friday and reiterated my desire for him to stay. I am delighted that he has decided to continue to lead our athletic programs."