Shortly after the news broke that the Pac-12 was parting ways with commissioner Larry Scott, names began to circulate about a potential replacement. One of the most prominent names that came up from multiple people was Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith.
Smith has ties to the Pac-12 as the former AD of Arizona State, has been very visible serving on several committees within the NCAA, and leads one of the largest revenue-generating athletic departments in the country. In other words, the marriage would make some sense at least.
However, according to a report from the Columbus Dispatch (subscription may be required), Smith has not been approached by anyone from the Pac-12.
“Honored to be mentioned,” Smith wrote in a text message to The Dispatch, “but I have not been contacted by anyone.” He went on to say that the mentioning of his name was “pure speculation” at this point.
Pac-12 commish candidates I’ve heard: Ohio St AD Gene Smith, Stanford AD Bernard Muir, former West Virginia AD (and NCAA exec) Oliver Luck, Alabama AD Greg Byrne. ASU’s Ray Anderson could make a push. Feeling is league needs someone who knows campuses, has built-in relationships.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 21, 2021
Scott’s tenure on the left coast has been marked by an inability to generate revenue and television deals like some of his other Power Five colleagues. The power and landscape has shifted the most in the biggest revenue sport, college football, and the Pac-12 has struggled to keep up. Because of that and other reasons, the conference’s CEO group voted to end his contract a year early. He will go through June with the league looking for a replacement.
Ryan Day was asked by reporters last week if he has had any conversations about his name coming up and wasn’t shy about his feelings for his boss when he said that he had not.
“I haven’t talked to him about any of that stuff,” Day said, “but if anything like that ever happened, certainly that would not be good. His leadership has been unwavering this past year and probably some of his best work, I would think. Not trying to speak out of school, but he’s done a tremendous job.”
We must note that despite Smith confirming that he has not been contacted, he did not make a point to make a comment on what would happen if he was tapped on the shoulder for interest.
We’ll obviously stay on top of anything that comes further from his name coming up, but at this point, it sounds like there’s still plenty of homework for the Pac-12 to perform.
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