Former Ohio State AD Gene Smith Joins Maryland Athletics as Consultant

Gene Smith, the former Ohio State athletic director who retired in June 2024 after nearly 40 years in college athletics, has taken a six-month consulting role with the University of Maryland's athletic department. He is assisting Maryland's new athletic director, Jim Smith, a former Ohio State associate athletic director with extensive professional sports experience, including time with the Atlanta Braves and Columbus Crew. The two Smiths worked together at Ohio State from 2016 to 2020 and plan to hold bimonthly Zoom meetings and other calls to navigate Maryland's athletic challenges. Gene Smith emphasized the importance of staying mentally active post-retirement and described offering guidance based on his decades of experience in college sports. Maryland President Darryll Pines initiated the consulting arrangement, which Jim Smith welcomed as essential support during his transition back to collegiate athletics leadership. Both express optimism about their collaboration and the value of Gene Smith's insight in helping Maryland's athletic department move forward.