Gene Smith to address ASU Law’s Fall 2025 graduates at Dec. 17 convocation ceremony

The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University is pleased to announce that Gene Smith, nationally respected collegiate athletics leader and former ASU Director of Athletics, will serve as the Fall 2025 convocation speaker.

Nearly 200 students will graduate this December across ASU Law’s five degree programs — Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Human Resources and Employment Law (MHREL), Master of Legal Studies (MLS) and Master of Sports Law and Business (MSLB). ASU Law’s graduate offerings continue to grow in national reputation, earning the school a No. 1 ranking for the most legal master’s graduates, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, and preparing students to bring legal knowledge into industries well beyond traditional practice.

“Gene Smith is a remarkable leader whose career reflects integrity, innovation and a deep commitment to student success,” said Stacy Leeds, Willard H. Pedrick Dean and Regents Professor of Law. “We are honored to welcome him to ASU Law as our Fall 2025 convocation speaker. His perspective will be an inspiration to our graduates as they celebrate this milestone and prepare to launch their own impactful careers.”

Smith brings more than four decades of leadership experience to this year’s ceremony. A former Notre Dame defensive end and member of the 1973 national championship team, he later helped coach the Irish to the 1977 national title before launching a distinguished career in athletic administration. He went on to serve as Director of Athletics at Eastern Michigan University, Iowa State University and Arizona State University, and later as Director of Athletics and Senior Vice President at The Ohio State University, where he led the nation’s largest athletic program.

Throughout his career, Smith has played a central role in shaping the landscape of college athletics, serving on the College Football Playoff Committee, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee and the NCAA Working Group on Name, Image and Likeness. He is among the few leaders to win national championships as a student-athlete, coach and administrator, and is the first two-time Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year. He is also a member of three halls of fame.

Today, Smith leads Smith Consulting LLC and serves on the boards of the Big Ten Network, Under Armour, the Fiesta Sports Foundation and the National Football Foundation. ASU Law looks forward to welcoming him back to campus to celebrate the achievements of the Fall 2025 graduating class. The convocation ceremony will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. For more information, visit law.asu.edu/convocation.

Written by Kourtney Kelley