Interest from other schools helped Smith get a raise from $648,000.
Gene Smith, OSU athletic directorOhio State athletic director Gene Smith had been on the other side of the table, trying to keep a coach who was being pursued by another school.
"First and foremost, you try to ascertain whether that coach or staff member really wants to be at Ohio State," Smith said Thursday. "If there's something we have to do monetarily or structurally for them to help them stay and be part of the family, then we do that."
This summer, Smith was the one being pursued. The result was a renegotiation to his contract, which will now pay him $1 million a year. He can also make up to $200,000 in bonuses related to the athletic and academic success of the OSU sports teams.
"I've been fortunate over the last couple years there have been some things that popped up," Smith said, "and I've always known this is where I wanted to be. It did get a little hot and heavy this year, so we just had a long conversation about the future and my goals."
Among the major universities searching for new athletic directors this summer was Oregon, which is backed by the deep pockets of Nike founder Phil Knight.
Ohio State president Dr. E Gordon Gee stepped up with the increase, and Smith signed it in June. It was a major bump from the $648,000 Smith had been making since June of 2008. He was hired in 2005 at a salary of $450,000 a year plus bonuses. Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel will make more than $3.5 million this season plus bonuses.
Mike Cleary, the executive director of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, said he's been around ADs for 46 years, and during Smith's time as a NACDA leader "he was as sharp as anybody we've ever had."
Smith isn't the first member of the Million Dollar AD Club. Florida AD Jeremy Foley has a salary that has been reported at $1.2 million. Smith said he did feel the increase put him in line with the current market.
"It's humbling," Smith said.
Smith, a Cleveland native, is a graduate of St. Peter Chanel High School and went on to play football at and graduate from Notre Dame. He was the AD at Eastern Michigan, Iowa State and Arizona State before coming to Ohio State.
Thinking about lights
Michigan two weeks ago approved a $1.8 million proposal to add permanent lights to Michigan Stadium. Smith said he took note of the decision, but permanent lights are not in Ohio State's plans for the near future.
"There's nothing imminent, but it did cause us to say maybe we should look at that," Smith said.
The Buckeyes bring in temporary lights for night games, though it did get fairly dark at times during the Miami game three weeks ago that kicked off at 3:40 p.m.