Hall of Fame Inductees
Gene Smith
- Induction:
- 2024
Gene Smith will retire as Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Athletics Director at The Ohio State University at the end of this month after a storied, 19-year career leading the Department of Athletics, one of the most successful and outstanding athletic programs in the country. Smith's tenure as AD at Ohio State started in April 2005 and is the third-longest among the school's eight athletics directors.
Under Smith, Ohio State has finished as the No. 1 athletics program in the Big Ten Conference in the Learfield Director's Cup standing eight times. Ohio State teams have won 117 Big Ten championships and 35 national championships. Smith's philosophy of developing the 'total student-athlete' has resulted in academic achievements concurrent with athletic success, including all 36 teams posting at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average for 2023-24, 811 Ohio State Scholar-Athletes and 489 Academic All-Big Ten honorees.
Recent construction projects completed under Smith include the Schumaker Olympic Sport Complex, Covelli Arena and Jennings Wrestling Facility, Ty Tucker Tennis Center at Auer Tennis Complex, Field Hockey Stadium and Lacrosse Stadium. In addition, the Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute (EDSLI) was created, funded by $15 million in private support, to provide leadership, character and career development for all Ohio State student-athletes to best prepare them for life after graduation.
Fund raising was also one of Smith's gifts. Along with his development team, more than $930 million has been raised since his arrival.
Under Smith, Ohio State has finished as the No. 1 athletics program in the Big Ten Conference in the Learfield Director's Cup standing eight times. Ohio State teams have won 117 Big Ten championships and 35 national championships. Smith's philosophy of developing the 'total student-athlete' has resulted in academic achievements concurrent with athletic success, including all 36 teams posting at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average for 2023-24, 811 Ohio State Scholar-Athletes and 489 Academic All-Big Ten honorees.
Recent construction projects completed under Smith include the Schumaker Olympic Sport Complex, Covelli Arena and Jennings Wrestling Facility, Ty Tucker Tennis Center at Auer Tennis Complex, Field Hockey Stadium and Lacrosse Stadium. In addition, the Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute (EDSLI) was created, funded by $15 million in private support, to provide leadership, character and career development for all Ohio State student-athletes to best prepare them for life after graduation.
Fund raising was also one of Smith's gifts. Along with his development team, more than $930 million has been raised since his arrival.
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