51ĀŅĀ×

51ĀŅĀ× will launch a national search for its next Director of Athletics following the announcement that Julie Cromer will depart OHIO to assume the role of Executive Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer at Louisiana State University.

Cromer was appointed Director of Athletics in August 2019, becoming the first woman to lead OHIOā€™s athletics program and one of only a few women in the country to lead a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) athletic department. Over the course of her tenure, she elevated OHIO Athletics through a shared commitment to academic achievement, competitive excellence and student-centered leadership.

OHIO has seen historic athletic success across multiple sports during Cromerā€™s tenure, winning MAC Championships in football (2024), menā€™s basketball (2021) and womenā€™s soccer (2023). OHIO football achieved back-to-back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in program history, including victories in the Arizona Bowl, Myrtle Beach Bowl and Cure Bowl. Notably, the 2024 football team reached 11 wins for the first time in program history.

Under Cromerā€™s leadership, student-athletes excelled in the classroom as well. 51ĀŅĀ× achieved the second-highest Graduation Success Rate in the MAC at 94%, with multiple teams earning national academic accolades. She also emphasized student development beyond athletics, overseeing nearly 7,700 hours of hands-on experiential learning opportunities annually through athletics. These included partnerships in sports broadcasting, athletic training, coaching education and other areasā€”many in close collaboration with OHIOā€™s Scripps College of Communication and the College of Business dual MBA/MSA program.

Nationally respected as a leader in college athletics, Cromer was named a 2024 NACDA Athletic Director of the Year and received the 2023 Nike Executive of the Year Award from Women Leaders in College Sports. She currently serves on the NCAA Division I Menā€™s Basketball Oversight Committee and the FBS AD Association and NACDA Executive Boards and recently co-chaired the NCAAā€™s Transformation Committee with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. 

ā€œJulie has been a transformative leader for OHIO Athletics, and her impact on Bobcat Athletics and her leadership within the national athletics community leave a lasting legacy,ā€ said President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. ā€œShe brought a vision rooted in integrity, student success, and competitive excellence, and she strengthened our program across every dimension. We are grateful for her leadership and wish her the very best in her next chapter.ā€

A national search for Cromerā€™s successor will launch immediately, with the goal of appointing 51ĀŅĀ×ā€™s next Director of Athletics during the current academic year. Additional information about the search process will be shared in the coming weeks.