ATHENS, Ohio – Candace Smith has been named the Executive Associate Athletics Director and will serve as the Athletics Chief Financial Officer, as announced by OHIO Athletics.
 

"We are excited to name Candace Smith as our new Athletics CFO.  She has a proven track record in senior management and has an adept understanding of the Mid-American Conference and the broader college athletics landscape," said Director of Athletics Julie Cromer. "She will be an incredible addition to our department's senior leadership." 
 

Smith was most recently the Senior Associate Athletics Director/CFO at Akron, where she served in various roles of increasing leadership for 17 years.  For the last five years, Smith was a member of the athletics executive staff and assisted with the strategic direction of the athletics department, while also leading the business operations, human resources and sports medicine departments. Smith also oversaw the development and management of the department-wide budget, while ensuring compliance with all NCAA Financial and Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) reporting requirements. She also served as the sport administrator for men's and women's basketball, with previous supervisory experience managing the track & field/cross country and volleyball teams. 
 

"I am incredibly grateful to Director of Athletics Julie Cromer and the hiring committee for this amazing opportunity to join the Ohio Athletics team," said Smith. "I am thrilled to be joining such a dynamic staff and look forward to contributing to the department's continued success during this pivotal time in college athletics." 
 

Smith also brings the experience of being a former MAC student-athlete to the role, as she was a member of the Central Michigan women's basketball program from 2005-08, where she was a four-year letterwinner and earned her business administration degree.  She earned her master's in business administration from Akron.