Gee plans to stay involved at Ohio State
After Gordon Gee steps down as Ohio State president on July 1, he plans to remain active at the university in other roles.
Known as a prolific fundraiser, Gee said Wednesday at a news conference confirming his retirement as head of one of the country's largest academic institutions that he will continue to raise money for the university and also might teach at the law school.
Gee announced his retirement on Tuesday in the wake of his comments about Roman Catholics, Notre Dame, Louisville, Southeastern Conference schools and former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema. The remarks were made at an Athletics Council meeting in December but were widely reported for the first time last week.
He insisted again that, at age 69, it was time to do some different and his decision was not based on the backlash or controversy.
"This isn't about those statements," he said. "I have apologized for those remarks and feel incredibly sorry, but I have moved on."
Gee also took a few jabs at himself.
"I run the university as if I were 36 years old, but I am 69. I am a little slower," Gee said.
Praised flowed in Wednesday from football coach Urban Meyer and men's basketball coach Thad Matta.
"Dr. Gee has done so much for me personally and as a coach," Matta said. "He has always gone above and beyond the call of duty to help build our program. I have never met a person who loves this university more than Dr. Gee."
Meyer, a former graduate assistant at Ohio State who was hired as head coach in November 2011, expressed his respect for Gee.
"His leadership brought me home to this great university and to this great state of Ohio," Meyer said. "I will always be thankful and grateful to him for that."
