Ohio State's Gene Smith was named Athletic Director of the Year on Wednesday night by the Sports Business Journal and Daily.
And the winner for Athletic Director of the Year is Ohio State's Gene Smith. #sbjsba
— SBJ/SBD (@sbjsbd) May 19, 2016
Smith was nominated alongside Bernard Muir of Stanford, Chet Gladchuk of the U.S. Naval Academy and Joe Castiglione of Oklahoma.
Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long won the award last year.
Smith was also named the SBJ/SBD Athletic Director of the Year in 2010 and was a finalist in 2008.
Ohio State won one national title this year (men's volleyball) and saw 10 teams finish in the top-10 nationally including football, women's basketball and men's gymnastics in addition to the volleyball championship. Several spring sports are still in action hoping to capture titles.
According to a school press release, the Sports Business Awards recognize excellence in the business of sports from Jan. 1, 2015 through Feb. 29, 2016. Athletic directors from colleges and universities across the United States were eligible.
