With Gene Smith's upcoming retirement, who has worked as Ohio State athletic director?
Ohio State has not seen many athletic directors in its history.
Gene Smith, who announced that he would retire June 30, 2024, is one of eight athletic directors in Ohio State history.
In Smith's tenure, Ohio State added 115 team and 369 individual conference championships, along with 32 team and 117 individual national championships.
Here's who has previously worked as Ohio State athletic director.
Lynn W. St. John — 1912-47
Lynn W. St. John was Ohio State's first athletic director for 35 years, while also coaching basketball and baseball for the Buckeyes from 1911-28. Ohio State later named St. John Arena after the athletic director, who died in 1950.
Richard Larkins — 1947-70
Replacing St. John, Richard Larkins worked as Ohio State's athletic director for 22 years, hiring Woody Hayes and Fred Taylor during his tenure. Larkins Hall was named after the former athletic director, but was torn down to build the Recreation and Activity Center on campus.
J. Edward Weaver — 1970-77
J. Edward Weaver spent seven years as Ohio State's athletic director after playing both football and basketball for the Buckeyes. Weaver increased the number of Ohio State varsity sports from 18 to 30, while helping found the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Hugh Hindman — 1977-84
After working as an Ohio State assistant football coach and assistant athletic director, Hugh Hindman spent eight years as the Buckeyes' athletic director. He helped add 12 intercollegiate teams for women during his tenure.
Richard Bay — 1984-87
Richard Bay spent four years as Ohio State's athletic director, hiring coaches including Gary Williams (men's basketball), Russ Hellickson (wrestling) and Bib Todd (baseball). Bay resigned after the 1987 football season in protest of president Edward Harrington Jennings' firing of football coach Earle Bruce.
Jim Jones — 1987-94
Joining Ohio State university as a physical edication instructor in 1965, Jim Jones was the Buckeyes' athletic director for seven years, having previously worked under Weaver, Hindman and Bay as an associate athletic director.
Andy Geiger — 1994-2005
In 11 years as Ohio State's athletic director, Andy Geiger helped the Buckeyes add three women's sports — hockey, lacrosse and rowing — while 19 teams made 103 appearances in NCAA tournaments, and five teams won 15 national championships. Bill Davis Stadium, the Jerome Schottenstein Center and Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium were each established under Geiger.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State athletic director history with Gene Smith's retirement
