Former Ohio State AD Gene Smith named NCAA Gerald R. Ford Award winner

Spanning decades, Gene Smith’s career has redefined what it means to be an athletics director. With his innovative approach and commitment to the "total student-athlete," Smith left an indelible mark on Ohio State and the broader realm of college sports.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, Smith has been named the 2025 recipient of the NCAA Gerald R. Ford Award, selected by the NCAA Honors Committee.

The award is presented to an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics on a continuous basis over the course of a career. He will be honored at the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

"I was moved and honored," Smith said of finding out about the honor. "To be recognized alongside those who have previously received this award is humbling. This honor is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career."

Smith’s journey in athletics began at Notre Dame. There, he graduated with a degree in business administration and played football for the Fighting Irish, winning an Associated Press national championship in 1973. His time as a student-athlete provided the foundation for a career defined by excellence and dedication to student-athlete development.

"Football was a great way for me to see places I’d never seen, to deal with people I’d never dealt with on a team. The group dynamics were phenomenal for me," said Smith, who retired in July. "I really fell in love with the relationships."

Smith’s professional trajectory included serving as the athletics director at Eastern Michigan, Iowa State and Arizona State before embarking on his transformative 19-year tenure at Ohio State. There, he led one of the nation’s largest and most successful athletics programs.

His leadership prioritized the holistic development of student-athletes, ensuring academic and athletic excellence went hand in hand. Under his guidance, Ohio State achieved record numbers of scholar-athletes and academic honors. Specifically, the athletics program achieved a multiyear Academic Progress Rate of 993 in 2023, the highest in school history. In 2022-23 alone, Ohio State reported 765 scholar-athletes, 190 Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholars and six Academic All-Americans.

On the field, Ohio State dominated Big Ten Conference play during Smith’s tenure, with 115 team and 369 individual conference championships. Ohio State teams won 35 team and 127 individual national championships during that time.

Beyond the academic and athletic success that he oversaw at Ohio State, Smith has profoundly influenced the landscape of college athletics. He served on numerous NCAA and Big Ten Conference committees and served as a member of the College Football Playoff Committee. He also chaired the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee.

His contributions to negotiating major broadcasting contracts and his leadership on the NCAA Board of Governors Federal and State Legislation Working Group to study name, image and likeness opportunities underscore his pivotal role in shaping intercollegiate athletics.

Smith’s philosophy as a leader extended beyond the administrative realm. His emphasis on personal growth and mentorship became central to his legacy at Ohio State, where he founded the Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute. The institute offers programs such as internships, job shadows and leadership academies to prepare student-athletes for life after graduation. In 2022-23, 95 percent of Ohio State’s graduating student-athletes had job offers, were accepted into graduate school or were pursuing professional sports.

Programs within the institute, such as the Bucks Go Pro internship program, provide paid internship opportunities across various industries, while leadership academies focus on skills like public speaking, networking and financial literacy. These initiatives aim to equip student-athletes with the tools necessary for success in their postcollegiate careers.

"I’m most proud of the fact that I was able to inspire coaches and their support staff and everyone around them to help the student-athlete be the best that they could be," Smith said. "I reverted back to my opportunities as an athlete and everything that I learned … and what I learned through my experience is that everything is about people in life."

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