In a significant move for Ohio State, Ross Bjork has been officially introduced as the university’s next athletic director. Following the introductory press conference, his wife, Sonya, shared her excitement with the media, expressing delight that their family is now firmly rooted in Columbus.
As Sonya Bjork enthusiastically stated, “We’re thrilled to be Buckeyes.” She humorously recounted the process of breaking the news to her mother about the family’s transition to Ohio State, revealing, “I was pushy, like, ‘Let’s do this. The next thing we had to do was figure out how to tell your mother.’ We threw around some really fun ideas about how we were going to punk her and tell her we were going to be Buckeyes. It was a lot of fun.”
Notably, Bjork’s mother-in-law, with roots in Williamstown, Ohio, had a particularly jubilant reaction to the news. Sonya shared, “She finally had to close her mouth because she was so excited. Then she kept crying. It was really sweet.”
I caught up with incoming OSU AD Ross Bjork's wife, Sonya, about learning he was taking the job.
Ross's mother grew up in Williamstown, Ohio. Sonya talks about breaking the news to her.
More on the Bjork family and their excitement to become #Buckeyes at 5 on @wsyx6 pic.twitter.com/qUHxgMbiwt
— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) January 17, 2024
Ross Bjork steps into the role of athletic director at Ohio State, succeeding Gene Smith, and the appointment comes under the leadership of the university’s newest president, Ted Carter. Carter, reflecting on the selection process, emphasized Bjork’s alignment with Ohio State’s values, stating, “Simply stated, Ross separated himself from the rest of the candidates. He struck me as somebody who has the values here at Ohio State – integrity, passion, and care for our students. I measured those against all the candidates, and he was by far the leader.”
While Gene Smith’s tenure extends until June 30, Bjork has a transition period to prepare for his new responsibilities, ensuring a seamless handover in the coming months. The anticipation is palpable as Ohio State looks ahead to a new chapter under the leadership of Ross Bjork.