Gene Smith, who spent nearly two decades as the athletic director at Ohio State and has been regarded as one of the most influential administrators in college sports, will retire next year.

Smith, 67, announced at a news conference Wednesday that his retirement will be effective June 30, 2024, marking the end of the academic year.

"My mentors have always said you’ll know when it’s time," Smith said.

Smith has been the longest-tenured athletic director in the Big Ten since Barry Alvarez retired at Wisconsin in 2021. Smith was previously the athletic director at Arizona State, as well as previous stops at Iowa State and Eastern Michigan, before moving to the helm of the Buckeyes' athletic department in 2005.

The Buckeyes captured 32 team and 117 individual national championships over Smith’s tenure, including winning the first College Football Playoff in 2014.

Smith had downplayed the possibility of his retirement in recent years and signed a five-year contract extension in 2021. In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, in June, he said he was healthy and having fun.

But his feelings changed later in the summer after conversations with his wife, Sheila.

"I look forward to our next chapter," Smith said. "We plan to spend more consistent quality time our children and grandchildren."

A search for Smith’s successor will begin when the university hires a new president to replace Kristina Johnson, who stepped down in May.

Contact Joey Kaufman at jkaufman@dispatch.com or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman.

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