See how much Ross Bjork will make as Ohio State's athletic director
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Employment agreements between Ohio State and its incoming athletic director, Ross Bjork, show when he will actually arrive on campus and provide details of a five-year contract laden with bonus clauses if the Buckeyes win championships.
Bjork was named Tuesday to replace Gene Smith, who has been at Ohio State since 2005 and will retire on June 30. Upon joining Ohio State from Texas A&M, Bjork will receive annual gross pay totaling $2.06 million. But before becoming athletic director on July 1, an agreement between him and Ohio State shows that he will be a senior adviser to Smith effective March 1.
That agreement, in addition to his athletic director's contract -- both signed by Bjork and Ohio State President Ted Carter -- were obtained by NBC4. Follow these links to read the agreement on Bjork becoming an adviser and becoming athletic director.
Smith and Carter, who took office on Jan. 1, said Wednesday during an introductory news conference for Bjork that providing a transition period was important. And Bjork agreed.
"I think that's the most important thing, to get to know the people," he said. "Luckily, I don't have to make the key decisions, the day-to-day decisions. I can really, really soak myself in and learn all about this place."
As an adviser, Bjork will be paid $175,000 a month in addition to an allotment of up to $25,000 for moving expenses.
Upon moving into his permanent role, Bjork will receive a base salary of $1.65 million, additional regular pay of $410,000 and be eligible for merit increases beginning in September 2025.
If the Buckeyes do well on the field, he will receive bonuses of up to $150,000 per contract year, which runs from July to June.
Some payouts are specific per sports team. In football, Bjork would receive $20,000 if the Buckeyes win the Big Ten, $35,000 if they reach the College Football Playoff semifinals or $50,000 if they make the final. He'd receive only the highest possible amount for achievement and not a running total.
The bonus structure for men's and women's basketball is the same: $20,000 for winning a Big Ten regular-season or tournament title, $15,000 for making the NCAA tournament or NIT, $25,000 for making an NCAA regional final, $35,000 for making the Final Four or $50,000 for reaching the final.
A national championship in any sport other than football, men's basketball or women's basketball would bring Bjork $10,000, capped at one payment per contract year.
Other payouts and benefits in the contract include:
- $350,000 in media and public relations appearances;
- $50,000 fringe benefit allowance;
- $10,000 for his wife to travel to away games;
- Two country club memberships;
- 25 hours of private flights;
- A bonus structure of up to $150,000 for student-athlete academic performance and graduations, but with a cap of $250,000 when combined with on-the-field achievement bonuses;
- A $500,000 retention bonus for remaining in the role through the end of June 2027 and $750,000 for serving the duration of the contract.
Ohio State also agreed to defray the cost of a liquated damages clause for leaving Texas A&M. The contract with the Aggies calls for a $750,000 payment, with Ohio State offering to pay Bjork a lump sum of $1,094,602, an amount that would come down after tax withholding. And Ohio State said that if Bjork negotiates a lower payment with Texas A&M, it would give him a lesser amount instead.
Bjork would be required the return the full amount to Ohio State should he leave before the end of his contract or be fired.
Bjork's pay is comparable with Smith's, who made $2.67 million in 2022 when factoring in bonuses. And like Smith, Bjork would make more than any other Big Ten athletic director, according to a report from the News-Gazette of Champaign, Illinois, that analyzed their pay when the Illini signed Josh Whitman to a new contract in November.
Even with high pay and high expectations, Bjork said his focus will be on making the most of Ohio State's annual athletics budget, with an eye on success on the field and from student-athletes.
"There's new revenue streams that are coming," he said, mentioning the expanded College Football Playoff that begins this year. "We want to capitalize in all the categories here on this campus.
"The goal is, like President Carter said, 36 sports … this is a public trust. We owe that to the people. We owe that to our athletes. We owe that to our fans, to say we want to compete at the highest level in everything."