The voice behind the curtain, the steady hand behind the scenes, and the keeper of Ohio State football’s media soul is preparing for his final curtain call. Jerry Emig, the iconic and unflinchingly devoted communications mastermind behind one of college football’s most storied brands, is stepping away.
After 33 unforgettable years in the game—15 as the face of Ohio State football’s media relations and seven more as the department’s communications czar—Emig will retire in March 2026, closing a chapter that shaped how the world saw the Buckeyes.
The Man Behind the Mic, the Binder, and the Brand
To understand Jerry Emig’s impact, you must look far beyond the sidelines. He wasn’t just the guy who scheduled pressers or handed out stat sheets—he was the quiet architect of Ohio State’s media empire. A walking encyclopedia of Buckeye lore, Emig was equal parts historian, publicist, guardian, and storyteller. For over a decade, he helped shepherd the program through national titles, playoff pushes, coaching changes, NIL revolutions, and more—all while maintaining the narrative dignity of the Scarlet and Gray.
“He’s been the heartbeat of our communications team,” said Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork. “Jerry is the kind of leader who always kept the spotlight on the student-athletes, made sure their voices were heard, and did it all with a rare mix of humility, humor, and brilliance. His absence will be felt everywhere—from the press box to the practice field.”
A Murray State alum with a master’s degree from Ohio State’s own sports administration program, Emig’s journey came full circle when he took the reins of OSU’s football media operation in 2011. From there, the Buckeyes soared: two national championships, five Big Ten titles, six College Football Playoff appearances, and a near-permanent seat at the table of college football’s elite. Behind it all? Emig—curating the brand, shaping the message, and ensuring the Buckeye mystique never dimmed.
Not Just a Goodbye—But a Giant Leap Forward
But Ohio State isn’t just reflecting on the past—it’s launching into the future with scientific precision. In a move that signals a seismic shift in how elite programs operate behind the scenes, the university announced the creation of the Center for Sports Intelligence and Strategy—a groundbreaking analytics and decision-making hub designed to supercharge Buckeye athletics across every front.
Think of it as the Pentagon of Performance. This isn’t just about game film or weight room numbers. This is about harnessing data warfare in recruiting, optimizing scholarship usage like Wall Street analysts, and decoding the chaos of the NIL world with Silicon Valley savvy.
“This center is a game-changer,” said deputy athletics director Shaun Richard, who will oversee the operation. “We already lead the nation in sports science—this new unit connects that excellence with analytics, NIL data, roster modeling, and more. It’s about giving our coaches next-level clarity in a world that changes by the minute.”
The center won’t just support traditional coaching efforts. It’ll also be the backbone of the university’s newly launched Buckeye Sports Group, offering NIL insights and business intelligence designed to keep Ohio State ahead of the financial and legal curve in this Wild West era of college sports.
Farewell to Legends, Rise of Innovation
The announcement of Emig’s retirement coincides with another major departure: Janine Oman, Ohio State’s senior deputy AD and senior women’s administrator, will also step down in June 2026. With nearly three decades dedicated to championing women’s sports, athletic performance, and compliance, Oman helped build the foundation that’s now being fused with data-driven innovation.
Together, Emig and Oman represent the soul of what Ohio State has been.
But the Center for Sports Intelligence and Strategy? That’s a glimpse of what Ohio State is becoming—a ruthless, information-hungry, precision-driven athletic machine poised to dominate not just through talent and tradition, but through data, strategy, and visionary execution.
A Closing Chapter, An Explosive Prologue
So as Emig prepares to leave his final press pass at the front desk, he hands off more than just a binder of game notes. He passes the torch to a new era—a future where legacy meets algorithms, where heart meets hard numbers, and where Ohio State isn’t just reacting to college sports’ evolution… it’s engineering it.
In Columbus, the past is legendary. But the future?
It’s calculated, ruthless, and coming faster than ever.
And it just might be unstoppable.
