Ohio State Communications Director Jerry Emig to Retire in March as Buckeyes Launch Center for Sports Intelligence and Strategy

For over two decades, Jerry Emig has been the steady voice behind Ohio State football communications, a trusted liaison between one of the most prominent programs in college athletics and the outside world. As the longtime associate athletic director and football communications director prepares to retire in March, Ohio State is not simply turning a page — it’s beginning an ambitious new chapter.

The university announced Emig’s upcoming retirement on Friday, marking the end of a career defined by professionalism, clarity, and dedication to the Buckeyes’ mission. At the same time, the athletic department unveiled a forward-thinking initiative — the creation of the Center for Sports Intelligence and Strategy. The center will serve as a multidisciplinary hub designed to enhance Ohio State athletics through data-driven insights, media training, and strategic communications, signaling a progressive step toward the future of college sports.

Jerry Emig’s career has spanned 27 years with Ohio State, and his impact on the football program in particular is difficult to measure. Since joining the athletic communications staff in 1998 and rising to become the associate AD for communications, Emig has been instrumental in shaping the Buckeyes’ public narrative. His work encompassed media relations during national championship runs, coaching transitions, Heisman Trophy campaigns, and countless high-pressure moments in the spotlight of Big Ten and national coverage.

His voice, often steadying and composed, has helped guide the Buckeyes through moments of glory and challenge. Emig earned the respect of reporters and peers not only for his sharp attention to detail and accuracy, but also for his understanding of how to convey the human side of a football program built on tradition, pressure, and excellence.

“I’ve always taken great pride in trying to represent Ohio State in the most professional and respectful manner,” Emig said in a university statement. “It has been an honor to serve this great institution and to work with so many incredible coaches, players, media professionals, and colleagues. I’m incredibly grateful for every moment.”

Emig’s tenure witnessed some of the most transformative moments in Ohio State history. From the Jim Tressel era, through Urban Meyer’s return to national prominence, and into the Ryan Day-led modern era, Emig was often the first point of contact between the media and the Buckeyes’ internal structure. His ability to manage crises, organize high-profile media events, and support the football team’s evolving brand helped make Ohio State one of the most visible and influential programs in the country.

“Jerry has been an indispensable part of our athletic department,” said athletic director Gene Smith. “His professionalism, wisdom, and unwavering loyalty have shaped how the world sees Ohio State football. We owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude.”

Smith, who will himself retire in 2025, emphasized that Emig’s departure does not mark a retreat but a redirection. The creation of the new Center for Sports Intelligence and Strategy (CSIS) reflects the athletic department’s commitment to innovation. By integrating communications, analytics, and strategic planning into a single platform, CSIS is expected to support all sports programs at Ohio State in navigating the increasingly complex world of college athletics.

With name, image, and likeness (NIL) now a permanent part of the landscape, and with the College Football Playoff expanding, athletic departments are being forced to think in new ways. CSIS will operate in that evolving space. The center will support not just football, but also Olympic sports, women’s programs, and student-athlete development by merging data science, communication training, and long-range strategy.

According to the announcement, the center’s pillars will include advanced media and interview training for student-athletes, digital brand-building, competitive intelligence through data analytics, and crisis communication preparedness. Faculty members from Ohio State’s journalism, data science, psychology, and business departments will collaborate with athletic department staff and alumni to build a program that prepares athletes not just for competition but for life after sport.

“In today’s collegiate athletic environment, success is defined by more than wins and losses,” said Smith. “It’s about positioning our student-athletes for success on every level — personal, professional, and competitive. The Center for Sports Intelligence and Strategy will be a critical part of that.”

Though Emig will not lead the new center, his influence will loom large over its foundation. Colleagues credit him with elevating the standards of communications at Ohio State, combining old-school journalism values with a modern understanding of social media and brand influence. The CSIS is seen by many as a natural extension of Emig’s vision — taking traditional athletic communications and equipping it for the digital age.

Ohio State plans to name Emig’s successor by early winter. That individual will inherit not only the reins of a powerhouse communications operation but also a mandate to collaborate with the new center to position Ohio State’s programs competitively in all facets of media and strategy.

As Ohio State’s 2025 football season ramps up, Emig will spend his final months supporting the transition. He plans to retire shortly after spring football ends in March. Until then, he will continue to guide media operations for the football team, assist in preparing for signing day, and provide mentorship to younger communications staffers and student interns.

“He never made the story about himself,” said ESPN reporter Adam Rittenberg, who covered Ohio State extensively over the past decade. “But Jerry was always there — always honest, always helpful, always fair. He made our jobs easier and made Ohio State look professional at every turn.”

That professionalism has become a hallmark of Ohio State athletics, and Emig’s fingerprints are everywhere: from the structured postgame interviews to the consistency of messaging on social media to the way the Buckeyes handle off-field controversies with promptness and transparency.

“He taught us the value of preparation, of poise under pressure, and of always telling the truth,” said Kyle Rowland of the Toledo Blade. “Ohio State communications won’t be the same without him.”

While Emig’s departure will leave a void, university officials are optimistic that the CSIS will ensure his legacy continues — only now, with a broader reach. Plans are underway to build a permanent space for the center within the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, complete with video and podcast studios, an analytics lab, and classrooms for training student-athletes in media literacy and brand management.

In the coming years, Ohio State hopes to establish the center as a national model for how college athletics can embrace the modern media era while remaining grounded in academic values. Already, schools across the Big Ten and beyond are reportedly watching the development of the center closely.

As for Emig, he plans to spend more time with family, travel, and pursue writing projects after retiring. Those close to him say he may still return to campus in a mentorship or consulting role — though he’s been adamant about letting the next generation take the lead.

“It’s time,” Emig said simply. “I’ve been fortunate to be part of something special for a long time. Now it’s someone else’s turn to help tell Ohio State’s story.”

And so, one of the quiet architects of Ohio State football’s image over the last quarter-century will step aside. But in his place, a new institution — the Center for Sports Intelligence and Strategy — will rise, shaped by the principles of clarity, credibility, and forward-thinking that Jerry Emig made synonymous with the Buckeye brand.