Gene Smith (athletic director)

Eugene "Gene" Smith is a college administrator and former college football player and coach who currently serves as Vice President and Athletic Director for the Ohio State University.

He was named the university's eighth athletic director on March 5, 2005. Prior to his tenure at Ohio State, he served as athletic director for Arizona State, Eastern Michigan, and Iowa State.

Early life/playing and coaching career

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Smith was a member of the 1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team that won the AP National Championship. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1977, becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college. That year, he became an assistant coach of the Fighting Irish football team, which would go on to win the Undisputed National Championship.[1]

Athletic director positions

Administrative career

He was also identified as one of Black Enterprise's "50 most powerful African-Americans in sports". He has previous affiliations with the NCAA Management Council, the NCAA committee on Infractions, the Rose Bowl Management Committee, and the NCAA Football Rules Committee. Smith was named to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Committee in 2006 and became the chair in 2010.[5]

In January 2014 Smith was promoted to vice president of the university. He will continue in his duties as athletic director, while also having an expanding role in other areas of the university.[6]

Under Smith's watch as athletic director, Ohio State has won eight NCAA recognized National Championships in various team sports - three men's titles (football, wrestling, two in volleyball) three women's titles (rowing), and one co-ed title (fencing).[7]

In 2018, Smith was suspended for 17 days, along with head football coach Urban Meyer, for mishandling of domestic violence allegations against wide receivers coach Zach Smith.

Awards and honors

Player

  • 1973 AP National Championship (with Notre Dame)

Coach

  • 1977 Undisputed National Championship (as an assistant coach with Notre Dame)

Administrator

References

  1. 1 2 Smith bio - Ohio State Buckeyes.com
  2. ↑ Heather Lyke Biography, see "Eastern Michigan University Athletic Directors Through the Years" at bottom
  3. ↑ Iowa State Daily - Athletic Director Smith will go to Arizona
  4. ↑ Ohio State Gene Smith Biography
  5. ↑ The Men's Division I Basketball Committee
  6. ↑ Smith gets new title - ESPN.com
  7. ↑ Buckeye Champions - Ohio State Buckeyes.com
  8. ↑ Sports Awards - ASAMA.org
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