Almost two months after hiring Mike Elko as the university’s new head football coach, Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork is leaving College Station.
Bjork has been announced as the next senior vice president and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director at Ohio State and will begin his new position on July 1, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.
“Few athletics directors have established such an impressive and strong record of success in athletics, in the classroom and throughout the community,” Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr said in an official announcement on Ohio State’s website. “The bar is incredibly high at Ohio State, and we have found in Ross a highly intelligent and effective leader – not to mention a fierce competitor.”
Bjork has nearly 30 years of experience in collegiate athletics and has been the athletic director at Texas A&M since 2019. Under his watch, the Aggies had unprecedented academic success throughout their athletic department, setting a school record for graduation success rate in 2021.
They also added new football and track facilities and more academic resources. Bjork hired six coaches (including Elko) during his tenure at A&M, and the men’s and women’s golf teams and the baseball team made deep postseason runs. He was also an instrumental voice in the community — helping launch multiple student organizations centered around real-world issues.
“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,” a statement from university president Mark A. Welsh III read. “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. All of us at Texas A&M are committed to maintaining the momentum of our athletics programs. 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.”
Bjork will replace legendary athletic director Gene Smith, who will be retiring after 18 years in the role in Columbus. It will be his fourth overall stop as an athletic director.
