Another Ohio State figure is joining the podcast game.
Ohio State announced Thursday that athletic director Gene Smith will begin hosting a monthly podcast, The Gene Smith Podcast, with the first episode set to premiere Monday.
Per Ohio State's news release, the podcast “will provide fans with updates on student-athlete accomplishments in the classroom and in the community as well as insight into the leadership and professional development training designed by the Ohio State Department of Athletics and its partners.”
“This project gives me a platform to discuss and explain many of the opportunities being provided to our student-athletes, opportunities designed to prepare and impact their personal and professional lives once their collegiate experience is over,” Smith said in a statement. “I will certainly champion and praise their efforts and accomplishments as athletes but these young men and women are doing so many other wonderful things I want to celebrate and bring to life.”
According to Ohio State, the podcast will also cover the following topics:
- The athletic department's role and relationship with the university
- The athletics district and long-term facility maintenance and development
- The Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute (design, programs and goals)
- Big Ten conference and NCAA issues and initiatives
- Ohio State's Strategic Plan (pillars and mission)
- The economic impact of Ohio State athletics (in Columbus and state of Ohio)
- Current events, topics and trends
Smith's monthly podcast comes on the heels of several other podcasts launched in recent months from people with ties to the Ohio State football program. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who currently works alongside Smith in Ohio State's administration as an assistant athletic director, began co-hosting the Focus 3 podcast with Tim Kight last month. Former Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith began hosting the Menace 2 Society podcast in May. Randy Wade, the father of current Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade, began co-hosting the Daddy's Ball podcast in May.
The Gene Smith Podcast will be available beginning Monday through Ohio State's website.
