Gene Smith pens thank you message to Ohio State entering retirement

After almost 40 years, Gene Smith is set to retire from his role as an athletic director next month. With that calendar about to turn, he has now shared his farewell message with his current school ahead of the upcoming step in his life.

Ohio State released the statement from Smith on Twitter on Friday morning. Within that message, he shared his thanks an appreciation for the support for his department as well as the teams, coaches, and players that have been a part of them. Now, he himself will begin supporting them from afar in his next phase.

🥹 A message to Buckeye Nation from Gene Smith, Senior Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director.
Thank You Gene! 🫶 | @OSU_AD | #GoBucks

— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) June 28, 2024

“Thank you for your unwavering support of our student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as your Athletic Director over the past 19 years,” Smith wrote in the release. “All of us have enjoyed remarkable experiences via our sports, concerts, and other events that occurred in our athletic venues. Thank you for sharing your passion and commitment that contributed to our student-athletes success, on and off the field. I am extremely proud of our student-athletes’ performances, in the classroom and competitively. They have set a standard of excellence for all future Buckeyes.”

“Sheila and I look forward to supporting our teams in the years ahead. Although we’ll be a bit farther away, they will always be close to our hearts,” closed Smith. “Go Bucks!”

News of Smith’s retirement came during a press conference back in early August of 2023. With this decision, his 39-year career as an athletic director, including 19 years leading the athletic department for the Buckeyes, will come to an end. His near two decades there make him the school’s third-longest tenured name in that position.

Smith previously served as the athletic director at Eastern Michigan, Iowa State, and Arizona State. He then, as a native of Cleveland, got the Buckeyes’ job in April of 2005.

During his time at Ohio State, their athletic department finished as the top school in the Big Ten for The Director’s Cup eight times. That included several finishes in the Top-10 and top-five nationally.

Much of that comes from the Buckeyes’ team success both in their conference and across the country in that span. Over that time, they have won 484 championships, 115 team and 369 individual, in the Big Ten. Then, overall, they have secured 149 national titles with 32 team ones and 117 for individuals.

Columbus is going to miss Smith after nearly 20 years there leading Ohio State. It looks like he’ll miss them just as much with the touching words that he released earlier today towards the very end of his career.