Ohio State Oct. 1, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; A stick-ladden Ohio State Buckeyes helmet sits on the turf during warmups before Saturday’s game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Columbus. Mandatory Credit: Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch Sports Ohio State Rutgers Ncaa Football

It looks like there are going to be some major changes to the Ohio State Buckeyes athletic department in the coming year as longtime Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith announced on Wednesday morning that he is planning to retire from his position effective June 30 of 2024.

Gene Smith has served as Ohio State’s athletic director for 18 years where he has helped lead one of the largest and most successful athletic programs in the entire country headline by the Buckeyes football team, which has been perennial national title contenders under his leadership.

“I have always believed that a leader seeks to be the right person at the right time in the life of the institution,” Smith said during a press conference on Wednesday according to ESPN. “I believe that July 2024 is the right time to welcome new leadership to build upon what we have achieved and continue to build upon the great tradition of excellence in athletics and business advancement at Ohio State.”

Ohio State is also in search of a new university president, meaning that the school will see a new athletic director and president in the same calendar year. So some big changes are coming to the university very shortly.

[ESPN]