Longtime AD Smith says he’s retiring in 2024
COLUMBUS — Gene Smith announced Wednesday morning he intends to retire from his position as director of athletics at Ohio State at the end of June 2024.
That will bring to an end 19 years at the helm of a department with 36 varsity teams that brought in more than $250 million last fiscal year.
“My mentors have always said, ‘You will know when it’s time. You’ll know,’” the Cleveland native said.
Smith, 67, came to that decision during conversations with his wife, Sheila, about his future during the summer.
He also mentioned feeling as if the leadership structure is in place throughout the rest of the department to withstand his exit and cited the university getting set to hire a new president.
“I really believe with this presidential change, which will be highly positive whoever they hire, give her or him the opportunity to hire their leader and make a run and build on what these coaches and staff and student-athletes have already done,” Smith said.
The Buckeyes have won 32 team national championships, including football in 2014 and wrestling in 2015, during his tenure and 115 team conference championships.
“There’s so many great moments,” Smith said. “The national championship in football, which was special. Three national championships in men’s volleyball were special. The wrestling national championship was unreal. I think I was in North Carolina for women’s basketball and had to fly to St. Louis in order to catch that and see those young men perform.”
But he said he is most proud of the culture he says the department crafted for supporting student-athletes off the field.
“We developed a student-athlete holistically, and that means so much to me,” Smith said. “It really does, and it took us a little bit to transition to that, to make sure that when that student-athlete leaves our little cocoon, she or he is ready. They’re ready for the next chapter in their life.”
Smith was among the highest-profile leaders in college athletics, including serving as