A new era is underway for both of the Buckeyes' bat-and-ball sports.
On Wednesday, Ohio State introduced new baseball coach Justin Haire and new softball coach Kirin Kumar, who are taking over the programs in 2024.
Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork took the lectern first and stated that both coaches were obvious hires early in their interview processes, and he's excited to see what both can achieve. Afterward, Bjork met with the media to further discuss the hires and dive into the upcoming revenue sharing plan in college athletics.
Kumar followed with a quick three-minute speech that got straight to the point, saying that she wants to build the Buckeyes into the Big Ten's premier softball program.
Haire laid out similar expectations for the baseball team under his guidance in what was, in his words, a more "long-winded" address to the public. He's seeking to establish an elite, unique identity for the Buckeyes and believes that the team is a sleeping monster.
Ross Bjork
- Bjork opened by welcoming the crowd at the Fawcett Center and noting that he hasn't actually been able to see the new coaches since their hiring because they only recently arrived on campus – Kumar eight days prior and Haire three.
- With all the changes within the athletics department, Bjork said he's quickly learned Ohio State's hiring process.
- Bjork also made sure to thank the Buckeyes' athletes. "Culture here at Ohio State is really well-defined, and we're here because of you."
- Bjork quoted Woody Hayes in noting the importance of hiring great coaches. "You win with people."
- While Ohio isn't the best location for building baseball and softball programs, Bjork noted, he wanted coaches who could navigate and embrace those difficulties. "We have two excellent leaders. We have amazing people that chose to come here to Ohio State. ... Bring a new identity, somebody who can relate to the equation here."
- Kumar stood out as an obvious hire shortly into the interview process, Bjork said. "In 15 seconds of having Kirin on a Zoom meeting, I said, 'What do we have to do to get this done?'"
- On Haire: "We see it. We see the charisma. We see the connection. ... We're just thrilled that we have two great leaders."
- “There’s no reason why we can’t be in the mix,” Bjork said when asked about his expectations for Ohio State baseball and softball. He acknowledged that Ohio State faces more challenges in those sports geographically than SEC schools but said “I really believe, based on my research, that you can win with players in this region.”
- Bjork said the details are still being worked out on how many resources Ohio State will be able to devote to baseball and softball with revenue sharing coming to college sports but said “we will fund our programs where we can at least be competitive. What that looks like, we don’t know yet. How many scholarships are going to be allocated to baseball and softball and what the roster limits are, we don’t have all those answers. But it’s Ohio State. We’ll be on the right side of the equation.”
- Bjork said all Ohio State coaches have to embrace the football program and its role in the athletic department. “Everybody knows football drives the economic engine. Everybody realizes that. Whether you’re a softball coach, a golf coach, a baseball coach. So I think what it takes here is you have to have those coaches that embrace football.”
- Bjork said it’s still “to be determined” how Title IX will apply to revenue sharing but said Ohio State will abide by Title IX requirements. “We have to follow Title IX. It’s a federal law. There’s different interpretations on how you comply.”
- On the evolution of colleges paying athletes from cost of attendance stipends starting in 2015 to revenue sharing starting next year: “Think of all the things that we’re packing in like a 10-year period. And college athletics evolved for 120 years before that. We’re packing a lot of change in a very short amount of time.”
- On hiring new coaches for baseball and softball from outside the program vs. promoting internally with men’s basketball (Jake Diebler) and rowing (Emily Gackowski): “In these programs, I thought we needed a new approach, a new identity, a new spark.”
- Bjork said he’s been “really impressed” with Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti: “His straightforwardness, his no-nonsense, his business acumen. He comes from a legal background, but also the television world, so I think that’s obviously a great perspective in today’s environment.”
- Bjork thinks his experience as an SEC athletic director at Texas A&M and Ole Miss brings him valuable perspective now that he’s working in the Big Ten. “That helps the room understand national perspectives.”
- Bjork said his hope is for Ohio State baseball and softball to be able to draw 2,500-3,000 fans on a consistent basis once the weather warms up in the spring. “We know February is tough. Early March is tough from a weather standpoint. But can you go from the middle of March to the end of May and make it a really fun environment? I think we can.”
- Bjork said it’s an “added bonus” to be able to hire coaches with Ohio ties but the “first thing is ’Can they do the job?’”
- When asked about the high expectations surrounding Ohio State football this season, Bjork deadpanned: “Is there expectations?” He said he thinks it’s great how much Ohio State fans care about the football team’s success and “we want that expectation.”
Kirin Kumar
- In opening: "I'm incredibly honored and humbled before you today as the new softball coach at Ohio State. I bring with me a profound enthusiasm for the game of softball."
- Kumar, a first-generation U.S. citizen, thanked her parents first for raising her to achieve what she has today.
- On what her program will look like: "We are gonna build this program on ownership, accountability and respect. Those are non-negotiables on and off the field. ... This is the school to be at, and we didn't come here just to go to postseason or regionals, we came here to become the premier program in the Big Ten."
- On recruiting: "We want to keep the top talent in the state first, and then reach out nationwide."
Justin Haire
- Haire opened with thank yous for Ohio State's administration.
- Growing up an hour and a half from Columbus, Haire noted he has a lot of family in the room to thank.
- It was a whirlwind in June during the hiring process for Haire, who had just gotten back from traveling when the opportunity arose.
- Haire added that it's fitting his family is here, because that's how he plans to build the Buckeyes' team. "The way we've run our program is just like a family."
- Haire made sure to compliment Kumar. "I thought we had some explosive offensive numbers (at Campbell) last year, then I saw (Miami's)."
- There are no specific goals that Haire wanted to outline, but he's eager to get the people in place to achieve great things. "We're not here to make results-oriented promises, that's not what we're gonna do. ... But what I can tell you is we're gonna have the right people in place ... and we're gonna work hard to make sure that the product on the field is something that people can be proud of."
- Haire said his aim is to ensure every player that touches Ohio State's program walks out as a better person than they came in, and he wants to recruit players that take pride in playing for the Buckeyes.
- Haire said it's time to build Ohio State's program to new heights. "It is time for our alumni to come home. It is time for our alumni to come together."
- On the identity of the Buckeyes' program: "The identity of our program will be uniquely ours. ... We're gonna have a love and care for one another that puts us well beyond our competitors. ... It won't be instantaneous. It will, at times, be very messy. Development is messy."
- Haire is confident Ohio State baseball can be a "monster" program.
