OSU's Gene Smith Gets Extension, Adds Oversight Of Sports And Entertainment Venues

Ohio State Univ. yesterday announced that AD Gene Smith "will gain oversight" of the school's "sports and entertainment venues under a contract extension that runs" through '20, according to Collin Binkley of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. The promotion gives him a new title, VP, and a "base salary increase of about $100,000." Smith will be "paid $940,484 a year retroactive to July, and he will be eligible for merit pay raises." Smith over the past year has been "working with other OSU leaders to raise more money through such venues as the Schottenstein Center, Blackwell Inn, Drake Union and Fawcett Center." His promotion will "make that work permanent and give him leadership over OSU’s partnership with Nationwide Arena, where he will work to bring in entertainment acts and sporting events." Smith wants to "help bring in more concerts and major athletic events" to the Schottenstein Center and Nationwide Arena." However, he indicated that he "doesn’t know whether he can do all that" before '20 (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 1/29).