Ohio State football: Who could replace Gene Smith as AD?

Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith announced on Wednesday that he plans to retire after the conclusion of the 2023 and 2024 collegiate sports calendar. Smith has filled the role at OSU since 2005, making him one of the longest-tenured ADs at Ohio State in school history. He has steered the ship at one of the largest athletic departments in the nation through some pretty rough waters during his time, including two NCAA investigations, two head football coach hires, and numerous social and economic challenges.

Smith was the AD during the most recent Ohio State football national title in 2014. He has also seen several building projects through for new venues for Ohio State’s Olympic sports teams.

But at the end of the day, for Smith, who was known for being very successful at fundraising for the university, it’s all about the student-athletes, according to SI.com.

"“It’s been a pleasure every single day and an honor to wake up and come to work and try and create an environment for our student athletes to be successful. It’s been my aspiration every single day to work for them.”"

Smith noted during his press conference that his decision had nothing to do with the recent changing landscape in college sports.

"“I’ve always embraced change. Those changes were not a part of this decision. Everything that’s happening I’ve seen before. Realignment, I was blessed to be a part of the committee when the Big 8 went to the Big 12, so realignment is not new to me. NIL is new to me. The transfer portal is not new to me. Olympic sports have been dealing with that for years. The changes in the industry are not what caused me to step away. I always felt and my mentors have always said, ‘you will know when it is time. You will know.’ This summer Shiela (Smith) and I sat down and she was asking me a million questions, and I said, ‘It’s time.’”"

Ohio State is currently without a school president. Smith noted during his press conference that once a president is hired, it will be his or her privilege to select a new athletic director. Smith has done an amazing job mentoring many possible candidates who have ties to Columbus, Ohio. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the next AD will be a former Smith prodigy.

"“It depends on the person and how my connection with them occurs. It would be easy to talk about characteristics, but I’m not going to strap them with the burden of a name unless they ask me or provide me that opportunity. They need to make their own decision.”"

Some possible names of former Ohio State employees who worked with Smith include Pat Chun, current athletic director at Washington State, Heather Lyke who is the AD at Pitt, and Diana Sabau who recently became the new athletic director at Utah State after working for Kevin Warren at the Big Ten offices in Chicago.