Longtime Ohio State AD Gene Smith strategies to retire in 2024

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith stated Wednesday that he’ll retire next summertime.

The 67-year-old Smith, who has invested the past 18 years at Ohio State leading one of the biggest and most effective athletic programs in the nation, revealed he would action down in July 2024.

“I have constantly thought that a leader looksfor to be the right individual at the right time in the life of the organization,” Smith stated. “I think that July 2024 is the right time to welcome brand-new management to develop upon what we haveactually accomplished and continue to construct upon the excellent custom of quality in sports and organization development at Ohio State.”

Smith, a Cleveland native who played college football at Notre Dame, endedupbeing Ohio State’s 8th athletic director in April2005 He had formerly been athletic director at Arizona State, Eastern Michigan and Iowa State.

Ohio State groups have won 115 group Big Ten titles under Smith.

Reporting by The Associated Press.