Convocation

Gene is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, where he earned a B.A. in Business Administration (1977) while earning three varsity football letters as a defensive end. Gene played under famed coaches Ara Parseghian and Dan Devine and was a member of the 1973 national championship team. Gene also served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame from 1977-1981, helping the squad to its 1977 undisputed national championship, with quarterback Joe Montana at the helm. 

Gene then spent two years as an IBM marketing representative before launching a career in athletic administration. Serving as Director of Athletics at Eastern Michigan University (1985-1993) and Iowa State University (1993-2000), Gene inspired unprecedented academic, athletic and financial success in both programs, while serving on myriad NCAA committees and establishing himself as a national leader in intercollegiate athletics. 

In 2000, Arizona State University hired Gene to serve as Director of Athletics. In 2005, Gene was named Director of Athletics at The Ohio State University, and subsequently Senior Vice President, where he directed the nation’s largest and best-funded athletic program. Gene served on myriad NCAA committees, including the Men’s Basketball Committee, College Football Playoff Committee and the NCAA Working Group for Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). In recognition of his contributions to collegiate athletics, he has been awarded numerous honors, including the NCAA’s prestigious Gerald Ford Award. Gene is one of only 3 A.D.’s to win a national championship as a student-athlete, coach and A.D.; was the first two-time Sports Business Journal A.D. of the Year; and he is in three Halls of Fame. 

After retirement, Gene formed Smith Consulting LLC, and he currently works with the BIG Ten Commissioner’s Office and the National Minority Coaches Association. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Big Ten Network, Under Armour, an American sportswear company, the Fiesta Sports Foundation and National Football Foundation.

Gene and his wife, Sheila, are parents of four children and grandparents to eight. In addition to consulting work, they enjoy retired life in Paradise Valley, Arizona.