Incoming OSU athletic director Ross Bjork talks football, ties to Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio State’s incoming athletic director addressed Buckeye Nation for the first time on Wednesday morning.

Ross Bjork of Texas A&M, who begins as OSU’s AD on July 1, was introduced by university president Ted Carter and current OSU athletic director Gene Smith during a news conference at the Covelli Center.

The news conference began with Smith introducing Bjork, who he has known since 1997. “It will be a joy to work with Ross over my last five months to ensure a smooth and seamless transition,” said Smith. “He’s a fast learner and he will quickly learn what it means to be a Buckeye.”

OSU made it official Tuesday that Bjork, who has been serving as Texas A&M’s athletic director since 2019, will replace Smith upon his retirement. Reports surfaced Monday that Ohio State was targeting Bjork, who has been an athletic director since 2010 serving at three different schools.

The search caps a process that began shortly after Smith announced his retirement in August and weeks after Ted Carter became president of Ohio State on Jan. 1. His hiring will require the approval of Ohio State’s board of trustees, which is expected sometime in February.

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“Ross struck me as not only a leader but someone who is passionate about sports,” said Carter. “He is relatively young — 51-years-old — and he was got a long runway out in front of him to be here and be our athletic director for a long time.”

Bjork comes to Columbus amidst unique periods for the football and men’s basketball programs. Under football coach Ryan Day, OSU is coming off losses in back-to-back bowl games in addition to three consecutive losses to Michigan, despite amassing 22 regular season wins the past two years and developing numerous NFL stars.

“Coach Day and I spent about an hour together on Monday,” said Bjork. “Brilliant mind in the game of football. High level leader and knowns what championship football looks like. Coach Day, he is going to get it done and it’s going to be a lot of fun when we win those championships.”

Before going to Texas A&M, Bjork was the athletic director at Mississippi for eight years and oversaw periods of success and controversy for both SEC schools. At Ole Miss, the football team vacated 33 wins over NCAA violations.

At Texas A&M, he extended the contract of then football coach Jimbo Fisher before his firing in November. Fisher’s buyout payment was $75 million. “The institution wanted a commitment for high level football for a long time,” said Bjork regarding the Fisher decision. “I’m the one who executes it and I’m the one who is responsible at the end of the day.”

Bjork is a native of Dodge City, Kansas but spoke in depth about his family ties to the state of Ohio. His mother Linda’s family grew up on a farm just outside of Williamstown, located in Hancock County a short drive from Findlay.

His great relatives moved to Williamstown in 1851 with his great grandfather building the family farm in 1908. Bjork, pointing to his family members in attendance, said “all of these folks here are Buckeye raised. There is this great Buckeyes connection.”

Big Ten athletic directors (includes incoming schools)

• Illinois: Josh Whitman (Eighth year)

• Indiana: Scott Dolson (Fourth year)

• Iowa: Beth Goetz (Interim)

• Maryland: Damon Evans (Sixth year)

• Michigan: Warde Manuel (Eighth year)

• Michigan State: Alan Haller (Third year)

• Minnesota: Mark Coyle (Eighth year)

• Nebraska: Trev Alberts (Third year)

• Northwestern: Derrick Gragg (Third year)

• Ohio State: Gene Smith (To be replaced by Ross Bjork on July 1)

• Oregon: Rob Mullens (14th year)

• Penn State: Patrick Kraft (Second year)

• Purdue: Mike Bobinski (Eighth year)

• Rutgers: Pat Hobbs (Eighth year)

• UCLA: Martin Jarmond (Fourth year)

• USC: Jennifer Cohen (First year)

• Washington: Troy Dannen (First year)

• Wisconsin: Chris McIntosh (Third year)

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