Ohio State Hires Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork
Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork is headed north.
Bjork will be named Ohio State's athletic director on July 1, 2024, a source confirmed with AllAggies.com.
An official announcement from Ohio State was released Tuesday afternoon.
“I have been extraordinarily blessed to be a product of college athletics as a student-athlete and fortunate to work with so many outstanding student-athletes, coaches, staff and university leaders throughout my career, and Ohio State represents the culmination of these efforts,” Bjork said in the press release. “To be a part of Buckeye Nation, along with its storied traditions and long history of achievement, is a tremendous honor and a welcome challenge for me and our family. I can’t wait to get started.”
Bjork, 51, was hired in 2019 following the departure of Scott Woodward to LSU. He was influential in building his own culture in College Station by hiring a multitude of coaches to run A&M athletics.
Several of his most significant moves include the hiring of Mike Elko (football), Jim Schlossnagle (baseball), Joni Taylor (women's basketball), Trisha Ford (softball), Jamie Morrison (volleyball), Gerrod Chadwell (women’s golf), and Brian Kortan (men’s golf).
Bjork was also a factor in the lucrative contract extension handed out to Fisher in 2021 amid the rumors of the LSU opening. Coming off a 9-1 finish with a top-five ranking in the AP Poll, the Aggies upped Fisher's annual salary to $9 million while extending him through the 2031 season.
Fisher, who was fired after going 19-15 in his final three seasons, will be owed the entirety of his $77 million buyout through the end of the contract, making it the largest contract buyout in league history.
Bjork was also at the forefront of Elko's hiring, though it came with hiccups. Before Elko was named Fisher's replacement, rumors began swirling that the Aggies had targeted Kentucky's Mark Stoops for the open position.
After further evaluation, Stoops announced hours later that he would remain in Lexington. The Aggies would pivot to Elko and name him head coach a day later.
"Over the last two weeks, when we engage with up to 30 different coaches at varying different levels? Some were in person, some were Zoom, some were calls, some were through third parties, etc.? There’s going to be a lot of moving parts," said Bjork following Elko's hire. “As President [Mark]Welsh said, one of the things he learned going through this – it ain’t over ’til it’s over. We wanted to make sure we engaged with our final group of candidates as long as possible.
“I respect Coach Stoops. He has been in the SEC for a long time. I appreciate his statement.”
Under Bjork's watch, A&M's athletic department generated the seventh-most revenue in the NCAA during the 2022-23 academic year, according to USA TODAY. Since the approval of name, image, and likeness, the Aggies have been one of the more aggressive schools in securing talent with NIL backing from boosters.
Prior to his arrival in College Station, Bjork served as Ole Miss' athletic director from 2012 to 2019. Before that, he was Western Kentucky's athletic director from 2010-12.
He also served as an assistant athletic director at Missouri (2001-03), Miami (FL) (2003-05) and UCLA (2005-10).
"Ross Bjork has played a pivotal role in advancing Texas A&M University’s athletics programs and contributing to the overall success of our student-athletes," Welsh III said via a statement. "We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the lasting impact he has had on our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the 12th Man. We wish him great success as he joins the tremendous leadership team at Ohio State University; they are lucky to have him and his family."
A native of Dodge City, Kansas, Bjork graded from Emporia State University in 1995, where he also played fullback for the Hornets' football team. After that, he earned a Master of Science in athletics administration from Western Illinois University.
Bjork is set to replace Gene Smith, who announced in August that he would retire on June 30, 2024, following the 2023-24 athletic year. Smith has been the Buckeyes’ athletic director since 2005.
Under Smith's 18-year watch, the Buckeyes have been one of the premier programs in college athletics, winning 32 team and 117 individual national championships. Eight times during Smith's tenure, Ohio State finished No. 1 in the Big Ten in the Director's Cup standings.
The Aggies will now look to hire their fifth athletic director since joining the SEC in 2012.
"A committee will be formed quickly to identify a new Director of Athletics, and I look forward to welcoming that leader to Aggieland as soon as possible," said Welsh.
