Jocelyn Gates, who oversaw OSU football as senior associate AD, is leaving
Ohio State senior associate athletic director Jocelyn Gates, who oversees the football program, is leaving the school.
She will be succeeded by Carey Hoyt, OSU's senior associate athletic director for sport administration and student-athlete development. Hoyt is also instrumental in OSU's name, image and likeness work.
Gates was hired from Boston College last June to replace Diana Sabau, who became deputy commissioner and chief sports officer for the Big Ten.
Gates is married to Dennis Gates, who was named the head men's basketball coach at Missouri in March after three years at Cleveland State. They have three children.
"It was extremely hard leaving because I have not been here long," Gates told The Dispatch. "I'm so loyal, but (OSU athletic director) Gene Smith and (senior deputy AD) Janine Oman are some of the most supportive people in this entire business and they have just been by my side helping me through this decision.
"There were tears for me because I don't want to go. But now there is relief that my kids are going to be under the same roof as my husband."
Gates also oversaw OSU rifle and pistol programs as well as track and cross country. She will leave OSU at the end of May.
“I want to sincerely thank Jocelyn for her work as a Buckeye over the course of the last year,” OSU athletic director Gene Smith said in a statement. “She managed a tremendous amount of responsibility incredibly well. I’m thrilled for her and her family and I look forward to watching as her career progresses.”
According to reports, Gates will join turnkeyzrg, a search firm, but she would not confirm that.
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Gates was previously at South Florida and Duke, as well as a postgraduate intern for the NCAA. In 2020, she was honored as the NCAA Division I FBS Nike Administrator of the Year.
She said she regrets that she was not at OSU long enough to develop as many relationships with student-athletes as she wanted but hopes she had a lasting impact.
"What I want to do in my career is be for others, and I think I've been able to accomplish that here," Gates said.
Hoyt oversees the Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute and is the sport administrator for women’s basketball, wrestling, fencing, men’s gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and the spirit programs. She was the OSU women's gymnastics coach for 13 years and earned national coach of the year honors in 2012.
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“I am pleased to have Carey in place to take on these important football responsibilities,” Smith said. “Carey has been a key leader in our department since transitioning from coaching and she will bring exceptional communication skills and vision into this new role.”
Hoyt's duties will include football scheduling and bowl game planning.
"She's amazing," Gates said of Hoyt. "I am just excited to see another woman get an opportunity to oversee football. She's a former coach, so she gets it. She's been here for a while. She has great relationships with staff already so I just think it's going to be a seamless transition. She's wonderful."
Bill Rabinowitz covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at brabinowitz@dispatch.com or on Twitter @brdispatch.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State: Senior associate AD Gates leaving to join search firm
