Ohio State announced Tuesday it has hired Texas A&M athletics director Ross Bjork for the same role.
Bjork will succeed Gene Smith, who will retire in July.
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“I have been extraordinarily fortunate to work with so many outstanding student-athletes, coaches, staff and university leaders throughout my career, and Ohio State represents the culmination of these efforts,” Bjork stated in a release. “To be a part of Buckeye Nation, along with its storied traditions and long history of achievement, is a tremendous honor and a welcome challenge. I can’t wait to get started.”
Bjork led numerous projects while at Texas A&M. Among them include the construction of an academic and wellness center, football indoor performance center and indoor track stadium, according to a release.
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Bjork also oversaw “the creation of AMPLIFY and AMPLIFY Local Exchange, which equips student-athletes with education and resources related to finance, personal branding, networking and media training.”
Bjork also was the athletics director at Mississippi where he was the youngest director of athletics within the Power Five. He also has stops at Western Kentucky, the University of California, Los Angeles, Miami and Missouri.
“Ross is uniquely equipped to step into our Buckeye community and make an immediate impact,” Smith stated in a release. “As I have said, Ohio State has afforded me the professional opportunity of a lifetime, and I am forever grateful. My final, important project over the next several months will be to work with Ross to ensure a smooth and effective transition with our student-athletes, coaches, department staff and university leaders.”
