Statements from President Holbrook and Andy Geiger on the announcement of Geiger’s retirement

Remarks from President Holbrook
Thank you for joining us this afternoon.

We are here to announce that Andy Geiger has decided to retire as Ohio State’s Athletics Director effective June 30, 2005, one year before his contract ends with The Ohio State University.

In light of recent developments, I have asked Andy to spend his remaining six months as Athletics Director addressing some important and difficult issues. He will work with Provost Barbara Snyder on the structure of academic advising for student-athletes. I’m also asking him to work with the University’s General Counsel, Chris Culley, to strengthen our compliance processes, and to further our work on booster education with the Vice President for University Development, Jim Schroeder, and the President and CEO of the Alumni Association, Archie Griffin.

Andy and I hope that by addressing these matters we can bring closure to some of the significant issues of recent months and position the Department of Athletics for the next phase of its development as one of the leading intercollegiate athletics programs in the nation.

Before Andy speaks to you about his decision and his plans, let me first say a few things to put this announcement into proper context. The Department of Athletics has faced many challenges and has experienced 11 years of remarkable and measurable accomplishment under Andy’s leadership. A broad and diverse program for 1,000 student-athletes in 36 sports, talented and committed coaches who are directing winning teams, state-of-the-art facilities, sound finances and significantly improved academic performance are his legacy to Ohio State. Today’s announcement should be seen in the framework of an extraordinary tenure of leadership, for which Andy has been recognized quite rightly as one of the premier athletic directors in the nation.

And now let me turn the microphone over to Andy.

Remarks from Andy Geiger
Thank you, Karen.

This is bittersweet. It is my decision after months of thinking about this. After 33 years as an Athletic Director at five fine universities, I find that my work is no longer fun, and that I don’t look forward with enthusiasm to each day. Thus, it is time for me to change directions, and time for Ohio State to seek new leadership for its Department of Athletics.

A friend wrote me a letter that contained this advice: “If you did nothing wrong, don’t behave as you did.” I am not running or hiding, rather I am making a management decision that is best for me and my family. I have had to deal with a cumulative fatigue and weariness which inevitably comes with management of a large, very public athletic department. This is not serving me or the programs well.

Controversy is always difficult. Clearly, we are dealing with some difficult issues, and I will work with my colleagues to see them through to conclusion to the very best of my ability.

We have enjoyed almost 11 years of life in Columbus and intense involvement in the life of The Ohio State University through its athletic programs. I will leave a Department that is staffed with coaches, staff and administrators who are extraordinary. I am very proud of them and what they are achieving every day. If there is to be a legacy, I wish it to be about people, not buildings or other things.

The facilities are in fine shape and the department is fiscally sound. I believe the future is very bright for all of our sports, and I shall do all in my power to ensure that future.

The Athletic Directorship at Ohio State is one of the premier positions in the field of intercollegiate athletics. The University Administration, Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni support our programs energetically and with a compassion which includes embracement and criticism, and that is just right. President Holbrook shares my belief in the values of a strong, broadly-based intercollegiate athletic program and she has always been a powerful advocate of our department and its teams.

During the 2004 season, our Football Team has demonstrated its capability on the field and in the classroom. The academic performance of the individuals on our team continues to improve, and the level of play on the field improved dramatically. Jim Tressel has my respect and admiration for his management of Ohio State Football. He has already met with me twice since the bowl game to begin a renewed effort at balancing the need to keep the student-athletes isolated from the worst sense of boosterism and yet be engaged in the community in positive and healthy ways. If either of my sons was talented enough to play football at a high level, I would have no qualms about his being part of this team.

During my final months as Director of Athletics, I will be working with my colleagues within the Department and the University to accomplish a very important agenda. It is urgent at this time that we take greater steps to integrate the Department of Athletics as fully as possible with the mission of the University. Thus we will be:

- Helping to move the Student Athlete Support Services Organization further under the aegis of the Office of the Provost.

- Creating a different reporting relationship for our Compliance Office, aligning it more closely with our Legal Affairs.

- Creating and executing a more comprehensive Booster Education program which will commence with the first mailings for the 2005 Football Season beginning about the first of February.

In addition to those efforts, I will continue to manage the Department of Athletics on a daily basis until June 30 or the appointment of new Director if that comes sooner. For the duration of my contract, I will be assisting with fundraising for the additions to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the new Tennis Center, the Rowing Boathouse on the Scioto River, and the renovations of our Softball Stadium. In addition, I will assist with Development efforts and possibly work with students as a resource, imparting knowledge gained through 43 years of work in intercollegiate athletics.

I know this is the right thing to do. I will always treasure my time here, and I will always be a Buckeye.

Remarks from President Holbrook
I have asked Dean Joe Alutto of the Fisher College of Business to serve as chair of the search committee for a new Director of Athletics. The committee, with faculty, staff, student and board representation, will begin its work immediately to identify well-qualified candidates and ensure a smooth transition between Andy and his successor.

I am very pleased that Andy will continue his relationship with the University in a new capacity through June 2006, pursuing special projects including fund-raising and significant interaction with students.