Ross Bjork - Ohio State University Director Of Athletics On Core Values, Confronting Challenges Head On, & Persistence

#207: Ross Bjork is the Ohio State University Director of Athletics. In his first year as AD, the Buckeyes football team won the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. Additionally, he began a one-year term as president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in June 2024.Before arriving in Columbus he served as the athletic director at Texas A&M, where he oversaw record-setting fundraising efforts, major facility upgrades, and pivotal hires that elevated the Aggies’ national profile. His leadership is focused on a deep commitment to student-athlete success, both on and off the field. With a career spanning over two decades of leadership at top-tier institutions, Bjork’s extensive career in collegiate athletics includes administrative roles at the University of Missouri, University of Miami, and UCLA. He served as the Athletics Director at Western Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M, where he was recognized for enhancing academic performance, fundraising, and athletic competitiveness.Ross earned his bachelor's degree in recreation administration from Emporia State University in 1995, where he was a fullback on the football team, and a master's degree in athletic administration from Western Illinois University in 1996.He has a great perspective on hard work, persistence, communication, curiosity, building relationships, facing challenges head on, leadership, and much more. Be sure to check out Ross on X @RossBjorkADEnjoy the show!