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Gene Smith (AD The Ohio State, '10 AD of the Year, '13 NAAC Organizational Leadership Award)

Gene Smith was appointed as Arizona State University's 18th director of athletics on July 27, 2000. Smith arrived at ASU as no stranger to collegiate athletics with a wealth of experience as a Division IA athletic director with previous stints at Iowa State (1993-2000) and Eastern Michigan (1986-93).

Smith's credo? To create student-athlete success academically, athletically and socially.

In his first four years at Arizona State, Smith hit the ground running, starting his own legacy of success in Tempe. He has hired nationally regarded coaches in football, soccer, wrestling, women's golf, water polo and volleyball while directing each of ASU's 22-sports programs, many of which saw unprecedented competitive success the past three years. Smith also oversaw completion of a $30 million capital campaign, which in part funded the construction of the $19 million Ed and Nadine Carson Student-Athlete Center, completed in May, 2002. The state-of-the-art facility affords Arizona State one of the finest student-athlete centers in the country, including perhaps the premier weight room and sports rehabilitation area in the nation.

Smith, who was named the 2003 Division I West Region Athletics Director of the Year by NACDA, has created a winning environment, dedicated to building stronger programs and committed to providing student-athletes the opportunity to be successful academically, athletically and socially. Nearly 60 percent of the 480 Sun Devil student-athletes were Maroon & Gold Scholars in 2003-04, posting at least a one-semester grade-point average of 3.0 while more than 10 percent achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point. The graduation rate hit a school record, improving 11 percentage points over the highest previous mark and 13 percent higher than the university average.

Smith has a long history of national leadership and service. Since arriving at ASU, Smith has been appointed to the NCAA Infractions Committee, the NCAA Football Rules Committee, the NCAA Administrative Review Committee and the BCS Athletic Director's Advisory Committee. Smith is a member of the Tempe Convention and Visitor's Bureau Board of Directors and the Maricopa County Sports Authority Board of Directors. He also serves on the Fiesta Bowl Board in Tempe. Smith is currently vice president of the Pacific-10 Conference Executive Committee, chair of the Pac-10 Football officiating Committee and a member of the Pac-10 Selection, Athletics Directors' Revenue Sharing, Rose Bowl Management and Bowl (Ad Hoc) committees.

Smith's strong reputation among his peers was affirmed in June, 1994 when the Notre Dame graduate was named president of NACDA. In 1991, Smith was appointed to a four-year term on NACDA's 32-member executive committee. In 1992, he was elected third vice president of NACDA and was named to the Division 1-A Executive Committee. He was elected First Vice President of NACDA in 1993. Smith has also served on the NCAA President's Commission Liaison Committee, the NCAA Executive Committee, the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee and the NCAA Working Committee to Study Basketball Issues. He was appointed to the NCAA's Management Council in May of 1996 and continues to serve on that committee.

Prior to his arrival at Iowa State, Smith served as athletic director at Eastern Michigan University for seven years. Smith joined the EMU staff in 1983 as assistant athletic director for non-revenue sports. He was named interim executive athletic director in 1985 and was elevated to the position permanently on June 25, 1986.

Smith earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame in 1977. He earned three varsity football letters as a defensive end at Notre Dame and was a member of the Associated Press 1973 national championship team.

Smith also served as an assistant football coach at Notre Dame from 1977-81, helping to guide the squad to its 1977 undisputed national championship. He then spent two years as a marketing representative for IBM prior to joining the Eastern Michigan staff in April 1983.

Gene and his wife, Sheila, have four children: Matt, Nicole, Lindsey, and Summer, and two grandchildren: Marshall and Steele. Sheila, a 1976 Canadian Olympian in basketball, holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and currently serves as Senior Vice President for the ASU Foundation, Deputy Vice President for Development and Special Advisor to the ASU President.
 
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Gene Smith - Leading Candidate for AD

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/03/03/20050303-smith-ad.html&chck=t

Gene Smith, a Cleveland native and the athletics director at Arizona State University the past five years, is said to be the leading candidate to be the next AD at Ohio State, multiple sources in and outside the athletic department told The Dispatch today.

OSU president Karen A. Holbrook "has not reached a decision, the job has not been offered and the process is still underway," Curt Steiner, senior vice president for external relations, said when asked whether Smith was the university's choice.

But several of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said an announcement of Smith's hiring could come as soon as Friday and that Smith, 49, could be formally introduced Sunday, when the OSU men's basketball team plays host to No.1-ranked Illinois in Value City Arena.

Smith, 49, would become Ohio State's eighth athletics director and the first black to hold the position.

He would succeed Andy Geiger, who announced Jan. 5 that he would retire June 30 with a year remaining on his contract. Geiger, 65, has been at Ohio State since 1994. He has been embroiled in NCAA investigations of the football and men's basketball programs for two years.

The search for Geiger's replacement began after his announcement. Other candidates believed to have been on Ohio State's radar during the two-month search were Joe Castiglione of Oklahoma, Craig Littlepage of Virginia, Eric Hyman of Texas Christian, Kevin White of Notre Dame and Deborah Yow of Maryland.

Smith, a Notre Dame graduate who was a freshman on the 1973 national-championship team, would bring administrative and marketing experience to a job in which he would oversee 36 sports and a $90 million budget.

He was athletics director at Eastern Michigan for eight years and Iowa State for seven before moving to Arizona State in July 2000.

In 2003, Sports Illustrated ranked Smith the seventh most influential minority in college athletics.

"Gene is an absolute professional. He has established himself over time as a true leader in our profession. He is extremely capable," said Dutch Baughman, an Ohio State graduate who is executive director of the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association.

Smith is a past president of the National Association for Collegiate Directors of Athletics and serves on several NCAA committees, including the infractions committee. He also is on the board of directors of the Fiesta Bowl, where Ohio State won its national championship by defeating Miami in 2003.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in business administration from Notre Dame in 1977, Smith was an assistant football coach at his alma mater until 1981, when he left to work for IBM as a marketing representative.

In 1983 he took a job as assistant athletics director for non-revenue sports at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, which is a member of the Mid-American Conference. He was named interim executive athletic director in 1985 and was elevated to the position permanently in 1986.

While at Eastern Michigan, he coordinated a $12.6 million renovation of Rynearson Stadium, increasing seating capacity by 10,000.

In 1993, Smith was hired as athletic director at Iowa State in Ames.

During his seven years at Iowa State, Smith directed fund-raising and capital campaigns for a football practice facility and a new athletic complex, including coaches offices, football locker rooms, weight room and training room. He also began a $14 million fund-raising campaign for the expansion of ISU football stadium.

Iowa State led the Big 12 Conference in graduation rates the last three consecutive years that he was athletic director.

Since moving to Arizona State, Smith has overseen completion of a $30 million capital campaign, which helped to pay for the $19 million Ed and Nadine Carson Student-Athlete Center completed in May 2002.

The graduation rate hit a school record, improving 11 percentage points over the highest previous mark and 13 percent higher than the university average.

The goal Smith outlined as Arizona State athletic director was "to win national championships in everything we do."

"I believe strongly that we should not sponsor programs unless we have that fire and desire to ultimately strive for a winning experience," he said. "Do it within the rules and regulations and in the right way, but our goal is to be the premier athletic program in this country."

He and his wife, Sheila, have four children and two grandchildren. Mrs. Smith, who played basketball for Canada in the 1976 Olympics, is senior vice president of the Arizona State University Foundation.
 
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I just don't want an ND grad in charge of athletics at The Ohio State University. He may have Ohio ties (being from here) but that is it. He left for ND and we should not welcome him here period. I want someone who understands what it means to be a Buckeye. Just look at that sorry excuse for a President. Her attempts to change the university have brought controversy and change (not always for the better). Are we to expect the same with the new AD who has no connection with Ohio State.

These carpet baggers (Andy was one of the few who did get it) come and go but just don't get what it means to be a Buckeye. Look at the last three Presidents at The Ohio State University. They are/were more concerned with changing Ohio State into scUM.
 
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Airspace said:
I just don't want an ND grad in charge of athletics at The Ohio State University. He may have Ohio ties (being from here) but that is it. He left for ND and we should not welcome him here period. I want someone who understands what it means to be a Buckeye. Just look at that sorry excuse for a President. Her attempts to change the university have brought controversy and change (not always for the better). Are we to expect the same with the new AD who has no connection with Ohio State.

These carpet baggers (Andy was one of the few who did get it) come and go but just don't get what it means to be a Buckeye. Look at the last three Presidents at The Ohio State University. They are/were more concerned with changing Ohio State into scUM.

I don't think you can assume Mr. Smith will come with this or that attitude for change or dismantling tradition- being from Ohio, grad of ND, I think he may understand something about traditions.

To dismiss him at first face just because he is not a lifelong Buck is silly. His credentials are excellent, he is being endorsed, he is a family man; he wants success without penalty, he has succeeded (seemingly) at his other posts....geez, can't the guy get hired before he is fired? :)

...some snippets for ya....


http://www.ncaa.org/news/2002/20020401/awide/3907n09.html


..he has the right idea....
http://www.ncaa.org/news/2003/20030303/briefly.html

"By cutting our prices, we have responded to the market and to what people have given us in terms of feedback," said Gene Smith, Arizona State athletics director. "We hope that these price levels can translate to additional season ticket holders."

http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/membership/ed_outreach/cis/history.html

Gene Smith(1996) - Director of Athletics, Iowa State University TOP
Gene Smith has served as the director of athletics at Iowa State University since July 1993. During his two year tenure he has created a marketing and promotions department, developed a financial plan for the athletic department and worked with the Iowa State student body to allocate funds to the athletic department. Smith is the past president o the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and also a member of the NCAA Executive Council. Prior to coming g to Iowa State, he was director of athletics at Eastern Michigan University.
---------------------------------------
...not a bum.....
 
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http://www.dispatch.com/osusports/osusports.php?story=dispatch/2005/03/04/20050304-A1-01.html

Arizona State AD in OSU’s sights
Cleveland native reportedly tops list to lead athletics department
Friday, March 04, 2005
Bob Baptist and Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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The leading candidate to become the next athletics director at Ohio State University would bring to the job more than 20 years of experience overseeing and marketing college athletics.

Gene Smith, a Cleveland native and the athletics director at Arizona State University the past five years, tops the list of candidates for the job, multiple sources told The Dispatch yesterday.

But OSU President Karen A. Holbrook "has not reached a decision, the job has not been offered and the process is still under way," Curt Steiner, OSU senior vice president for external relations, said yesterday.

In a statement issued last night by an Arizona State spokesman, Smith said, "I have not interviewed for it, and I have not spoken to them. My name comes up in these searches from time to time."

Still, a source close to Holbrook indicated that Smith, 49, is the leading candidate. And a source in the Arizona State athletics department told The Tribune in Mesa last night that Smith has told people in the department that he is a candidate for the OSU job.

Other sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said an announcement of Smith’s hiring could come today and that he could be formally introduced Sunday, when the OSU men’s basketball team plays host to No. 1-ranked Illinois. The OSU trustees are meeting today.

Smith, a Notre Dame graduate and defensive end on the Fighting Irish football team from 1973 to ’76, would become Ohio State’s eighth athletics director and the first black to hold the position. He would succeed Andy Geiger, who will retire June 30.

Geiger, 65, has been at Ohio State since 1994 and is being paid $284,340 this year. He initiated the renovation of Ohio Stadium and the construction of facilities for basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer and track, and he built the athletics department into a 36-sport enterprise with a $90 million budget.

But Geiger has been embroiled in NCAA investigations of the football and men’s basketball programs for two years and cited "burnout" when he announced Jan. 5 that he would leave the job with a year remaining on his contract.

Other candidates thought to have been on Ohio State’s radar during the two-month search for Geiger’s successor are athletics directors Joe Castiglione of Oklahoma, Craig Littlepage of Virginia, Eric Hyman of Texas Christian, Kevin White of Notre Dame and Deborah Yow of Maryland.

The source close to Holbrook said the president is "pleased with the ongoing progress of the search and impressed with the quality of the potential candidates."

Smith was athletics director at Eastern Michigan University for eight years and Iowa State University for seven years before taking over Arizona State’s 22-sport program in July 2000. He led multimillion-dollar capital-improvement projects at all three schools.

He was named this month by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 50 most powerful African-Americans in sports. In 2003, Sports Illustrated ranked Smith the seventh-most-influential minority in college athletics. He is a past president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

"Gene is an absolute professional. He has established himself over time as a true leader in our profession. He is extremely capable," said Dutch Baughman, an Ohio State graduate who is executive director of the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association.

Smith attended Cleveland public schools before graduating from Bedford Chanel High School, a parochial school in Bedford. After graduating from Notre Dame in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Smith was an assistant football coach at his alma mater until 1981, when he left to work for IBM as a marketing representative.

Smith returned to college athletics in 1983 as assistant athletics director for nonrevenue sports at Eastern Michigan. He was named interim athletics director in 1985 and elevated permanently a year later. While at Eastern Michigan, Smith coordinated a $12.6 million renovation of the school’s football stadium.

He moved to Iowa State in 1993 and in seven years directed fund-raising campaigns for a football practice facility and new athletic complex. He also began a $14 million campaign to expand the school’s football stadium.

Iowa State student-athletes led the Big 12 Conference in graduation rates the last three years that Smith was there.

At Arizona State, where he was paid about $290,000 last year, Smith has overseen completion of a $30 million campaign that helped pay for construction of a $19 million student-athlete center.

In recently released NCAA Academic Progress Rates, designed to measure scholarship athletes’ progress toward a degree, Arizona State ranked seventh overall in the Pacific 10, with a score of 923. The NCAA has said that teams that don’t score at least 925 could face penalties. The football team scored 887; men’s basketball, 862; women’s basketball, 983; and baseball, 853.

Ohio State’s overall score was 938, including 870 in football; 881 in men’s basketball; 983 in women’s basketball; and 928 in baseball.

Smith and his wife, Sheila, have four children and two grandchildren. Mrs. Smith played basketball for Canada in the 1976 Olympics and is senior vice president of the Arizona State University Foundation.



[email protected]


[email protected]
Dispatch reporter Rob Oller contributed to this story.
Gene Smith
Friday, March 04, 2005
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Personal


• Age: 49

• Hometown: Cleveland

• Family: Wife, Sheila; children, Matt, Nicole, Lindsey, Summer; two grandchildren

Career timeline


• 1973: graduated, Bedford Chanel High School, Bedford, Ohio

• 1973-76: football player, University of Notre Dame. Team won Associated Press national title in 1973.

• 1977: bachelor’s in business administration, Notre Dame

• 1977-81: graduate assistant, assistant football coach, Notre Dame. Team won national title in 1977.

• 1981-83: marketing representative, IBM

• 1983-85: assistant athletics director, Eastern Michigan University

• 1985-93: athletics director, Eastern Michigan

• 1993-2000: athletics director, Iowa State University

• 2000-present: athletics director, Arizona State University

Career highlights


• member, NCAA Management Council

• member, NCAA Football Issues Committee

• member, NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee

• member, NCAA Division I men’s basketball TV contract negotiating team

• past member, NCAA Executive Committee

• past member, NCAA Infractions Committee • past president, National Association for Collegiate Directors of Athletics Source: Arizona State
 
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Smith -- the worst possible choice

I live in Phoenix and am a season ticket holder to ASU baseball -- one of the numerous formerly distinguished programs Smith has managed to run into the ground. This is truly the best possible choice for ASU and the worst possible choice for OSU. Smith has exactly one redeeming characteristic -- he's Black; but after all, if it wasn't for affirmative action, Holbrook would still be teaching second grade in Georgia. Apparently there's only one criterion for selection in Holbrook's book.
Smith has created a huge athletics department deficit here; he is a truly inept fund raiser who is completely unorganized and has no clue to go about anything. The building programs have languished. The baseball, wrestling, and basketball teams have been absolutely destroyed under his tenure and may never recover. In alumni/supporter events he's detached and communes only with a small group of backers who have moved into the department like vultures. They have hacked large numbers of department employees in the past couple of years in an attempt to balance the books, which still hasn't worked. In speaking with him you wonder if he's really as dumb as he comes across, or if it's an act. The athletics department is currently under NCAA investigation for a number of football violations, including the use of autos provided by department employees, academic fraud, and other maladies, and he has no handle on any of these things whatsoever.
I was truly astounded when I read this story. This guy is much worse than Jim Jones. Say good-bye to proud athletic tradition, integrity, and fiscal soundness at OSU if he comes on board for the sake of stoking Holbrook's political correctness agenda.
 
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BN Free


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Gene Smith

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</td> <td valign="top"> Report: OSU Set To Hire Arizona State AD Smith
By Steve Helwagen Managing Editor
Date: Mar 4, 2005

Broadcast reports in Columbus Thursday night had Ohio State close to hiring Arizona State athletic director Gene Smith to replace Andy Geiger. Click here for more details on Smith, who is an Ohio native and former Notre Dame football player.
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Broadcast reports in Columbus say Ohio State is close to hiring Arizona State athletic director Gene Smith to replace Andy Geiger, who announced his retirement Jan. 5. According to multiple reports, Ohio State could be poised to introduce Smith as soon as Sunday in conjunction with the nationally televised men’s basketball game with No. 1-ranked Illinois at Value City Arena.

A source close to the search committee told Columbus’ WSYX-TV (Ch. 6) that “He’s it” in regards to Smith’s standing as the top candidate for the job.

However, the station also reported that a spokesperson for OSU President Karen Holbrook said the job had not been offered.

Another report – though unconfirmed – said Oklahoma’s respected AD, Joe Castiglione, had been offered the job previously and turned it down.

Smith, 49, is a 1973 graduate of Bedford (Ohio) Chanel High School. He then played defensive end at Notre Dame. He was a member of the 1973 national championship team there before graduating in 1977.

“You would be getting an athletic director who is a football guy,” said Hod Rabino, publisher of DevilsDigest.com. “The athletic department here is keeping mum on (Smith’s departure) right now.”

Smith’s full bio is listed below. But he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater for five years. After time spent in the private sector at IBM, he went into athletic administration at Eastern Michigan in 1983. He became the athletic director at EMU in 1985 before moving on to Iowa State in 1993 and Arizona State in 2000.

He is considered as one of the nation’s most well respected ADs, serving on NCAA committees for football rules and infractions.

Some of his biggest accomplishments include a $12 million stadium renovation at EMU, an overhaul of facilities at Iowa State and a $30 million capital campaign at Arizona State. At ASU, he also worked to wipe out a budget deficit.

“Academically, things improved under his watch,” Rabino said. “When he got here, there was a budget deficit of around $3 million. But with layoffs and cuts and some creative things, he got it under control. He did things like scheduling Nebraska in football in (an exempt game). The team got killed, but the school made $800,000. He did a lot of creative things to raise money and erase the deficit.

“Their attendance last year was the highest it’s been in eight years. He did a lot of good things here.”

Smith showed he was a man of action just five months into his new job in 2000, when he fired longtime football coach Bruce Snyder and replaced him with Boise State’s Dirk Koetter.

Obviously, Smith would be coming to Ohio State to help clean up a number of messy situations. Both the football and men’s basketball programs are under NCAA investigation after allegations of illegal extra benefits for athletes have been raised. Plus, several of the school’s programs fell far short of the NCAA’s new academic standards, meaning OSU could be in line to suffer scholarship losses without improvement.

Below is Smith’s bio from the official ASU site:

Gene Smith was appointed as Arizona State University's 18th director of athletics on July 27, 2000. Smith arrived at ASU as no stranger to collegiate athletics with a wealth of experience as a Division IA athletic director with previous stints at Iowa State (1993-2000) and Eastern Michigan (1986-93).

Smith's credo? To create student-athlete success academically, athletically and socially.

In his first four years at Arizona State, Smith hit the ground running, starting his own legacy of success in Tempe. He has hired nationally regarded coaches in football, soccer, wrestling, women's golf, water polo and volleyball while directing each of ASU's 22-sports programs, many of which saw unprecedented competitive success the past three years. Smith also oversaw completion of a $30 million capital campaign, which in part funded the construction of the $19 million Ed and Nadine Carson Student-Athlete Center, completed in May, 2002. The state-of-the-art facility affords Arizona State one of the finest student-athlete centers in the country, including perhaps the premier weight room and sports rehabilitation area in the nation.

Smith, who was named the 2003 Division I West Region Athletics Director of the Year by NACDA, has created a winning environment, dedicated to building stronger programs and committed to providing student-athletes the opportunity to be successful academically, athletically and socially. Nearly 60 percent of the 480 Sun Devil student-athletes were Maroon & Gold Scholars in 2003-04, posting at least a one-semester grade-point average of 3.0 while more than 10 percent achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point. The graduation rate hit a school record, improving 11 percentage points over the highest previous mark and 13 percent higher than the university average.

Smith has a long history of national leadership and service. Since arriving at ASU, Smith has been appointed to the NCAA Infractions Committee, the NCAA Football Rules Committee, the NCAA Administrative Review Committee and the BCS Athletic Director's Advisory Committee. Smith is a member of the Tempe Convention and Visitor's Bureau Board of Directors and the Maricopa County Sports Authority Board of Directors.

He also serves on the Fiesta Bowl Board in Tempe. Smith is currently vice president of the Pacific-10 Conference Executive Committee, chair of the Pac-10 Football officiating Committee and a member of the Pac-10 Selection, Athletics Directors' Revenue Sharing, Rose Bowl Management and Bowl (Ad Hoc) committees.

Smith's strong reputation among his peers was affirmed in June, 1994 when the Notre Dame graduate was named president of NACDA. In 1991, Smith was appointed to a four-year term on NACDA's 32-member executive committee. In 1992, he was elected third vice president of NACDA and was named to the Division 1-A Executive Committee. He was elected First Vice President of NACDA in 1993. Smith has also served on the NCAA President's Commission Liaison Committee, the NCAA Executive Committee, the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee and the NCAA Working Committee to Study Basketball Issues. He was appointed to the NCAA's Management Council in May of 1996 and continues to serve on that committee.

Prior to his arrival at Iowa State, Smith served as athletic director at Eastern Michigan University for seven years. Smith joined the EMU staff in 1983 as assistant athletic director for non-revenue sports. He was named interim executive athletic director in 1985 and was elevated to the position permanently on June 25, 1986.

Smith earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame in 1977. He earned three varsity football letters as a defensive end at Notre Dame and was a member of the Associated Press 1973 national championship team.

Smith also served as an assistant football coach at Notre Dame from 1977-81, helping to guide the squad to its 1977 undisputed national championship. He then spent two years as a marketing representative for IBM prior to joining the Eastern Michigan staff in April 1983.

Gene and his wife, Sheila, have four children: Matt, Nicole, Lindsey, and Summer, and two grandchildren: Marshall and Steele. Sheila, a 1976 Canadian Olympian in basketball, holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and currently serves as Senior Vice President for the ASU Foundation, Deputy Vice President for Development and Special Advisor to the ASU President.



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Arizona State's Gene Smith accepts position as next OSU AD

This is actually an area that I have some first hand expirience from. As a former athlete at Arizona State I am not impressed with his hiring. Wells Fargo Arena and Sun Devil Stadium were well below average facilities. As well when the whole Clarett situation came to face, I reminded everyone that these things go on at every school. I was a walk on football player and knew scholarship players that would walk in with the exam answers and also take "cush" summer jobs. Smith made mediocre hirings in Dirk Koetter and Tempe is trying to chase out Rob Evans. I am definetly looking at the major areas which is improvements in facilities, honesty in the programs and good coach hirings. Smith seems like a well respected individual. But in my honest opinion Andy Geiger is a good man, and Gene Smith will not be able to do half as many good things as he.


Arizona State AD agrees to take OSU job
Cleveland native Gene Smith will earn at least $500,000
Friday, March 04, 2005
Bob Baptist, Tim May and Rob Oller
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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Gene Smith has agreed to become the next athletics director at Ohio State University, a source told The Dispatch today. The announcement of his hiring will come Saturday, the source said.

Smith, a Cleveland native and the athletics director at Arizona State University the past five years, will receive a total compensation package worth from $500,000 to $600,000, sources said. The man he'll replace, Andy Geiger, makes from $325,000 to $350,000.

Smith flew to Columbus today and met with members of the AD search committee and other university officials, sources said on the condition of anonymity.

The OSU trustees met today in Newark. One trustee, Tami Longaberger, is a member of the search committee.

The Arizona State AD met with an executive search firm in Dallas last week to discuss the Ohio State opening, a source said.

Smith, 49, will become Ohio State's eighth athletics director and the first black to hold the position. He would succeed Andy Geiger, who will retire June 30.
Ohio State would be getting an intelligent, energetic athletics director who is beloved by his staff, said Dutch Baughman, executive director of the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association.

"If you talk to his staff at Arizona State, they'd take a bullet for him," Baughman said. "He's as solid as there is."

Smith is a Notre Dame graduate and played defensive end on the Fighting Irish football team from 1973 to ’76. Geiger, 65, has been at Ohio State since 1994 and is being paid $284,340 this year. He initiated the renovation of Ohio Stadium and the construction of facilities for basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer and track, and he built the athletics department into a 36-sport enterprise with a $90 million budget.

But Geiger has been embroiled in NCAA investigations of the football and men’s basketball programs for two years and cited "burnout" when he announced Jan. 5 that he would leave the job with a year remaining on his contract.

Other candidates thought to have been on Ohio State’s radar during the two-month search for Geiger’s successor are athletics directors Joe Castiglione of Oklahoma, Craig Littlepage of Virginia, Eric Hyman of Texas Christian, Kevin White of Notre Dame and Deborah Yow of Maryland.

The source close to Holbrook said the president is "pleased with the ongoing progress of the search and impressed with the quality of the potential candidates."

Smith was athletics director at Eastern Michigan University for eight years and Iowa State University for seven years before taking over Arizona State’s 22-sport program in July 2000. He led multimillion-dollar capital-improvement projects at all three schools.

He was named this month by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 50 most powerful African-Americans in sports. In 2003, Sports Illustrated ranked Smith the seventh-most-influential minority in college athletics. He is a past president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

"Gene is an absolute professional. He has established himself over time as a true leader in our profession. He is extremely capable," said Baughman, who is an Ohio State graduate.

Smith attended Cleveland public schools before graduating from Bedford Chanel High School, a parochial school in Bedford. After graduating from Notre Dame in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Smith was an assistant football coach at his alma mater until 1981, when he left to work for IBM as a marketing representative.

Smith returned to college athletics in 1983 as assistant athletics director for nonrevenue sports at Eastern Michigan. He was named interim athletics director in 1985 and elevated permanently a year later. While at Eastern Michigan, Smith coordinated a $12.6 million renovation of the school’s football stadium.

He moved to Iowa State in 1993 and in seven years directed fund-raising campaigns for a football practice facility and new athletic complex. He also began a $14 million campaign to expand the school’s football stadium.

Iowa State student-athletes led the Big 12 Conference in graduation rates the last three years that Smith was there.

At Arizona State, where he was paid about $290,000 last year, Smith has overseen completion of a $30 million campaign that helped pay for construction of a $19 million student-athlete center.

In recently released NCAA Academic Progress Rates, designed to measure scholarship athletes’ progress toward a degree, Arizona State ranked seventh overall in the Pacific 10, with a score of 923. The NCAA has said that teams that don’t score at least 925 could face penalties. The football team scored 887; men’s basketball, 862; women’s basketball, 983; and baseball, 853.

Ohio State’s overall score was 938, including 870 in football; 881 in men’s basketball; 983 in women’s basketball; and 928 in baseball.

Smith and his wife, Sheila, have four children and two grandchildren. Mrs. Smith played basketball for Canada in the 1976 Olympics and is senior vice president of the Arizona State University Foundation.



[email protected]




[email protected]


[email protected]
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