Jeff Blair enters the 2024-25 academic year in his 15th year as Ohio Dominican's athletic director and his 25th year overall working at the university.
The Bellefontaine, Ohio native played a critical role in ODU's successful transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and entrance into the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2010. Currently, he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the athletic department and its 16 varsity intercollegiate sports while serving as a member of the ODU Director’s Council, as well as on the Compliance, Athletic and Hall of Fame Committees.
The Panther athletic programs reached new heights in the 2012-13 year, with the men's tennis and men's golf teams qualifying for the NCAA Tournament and a record-number of student-athletes achieving a 3.0 GPA.
In subsequent years, the football team made consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs and was ranked as high as No. 4 in the country, while the softball and men's and women's soccer teams also captured GLIAC championships.
Under Blair's leadership, Ohio Dominican played host to the 2017 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight, and he played a key role in securing the bid for the national championships to return to Alumni Hall in both 2019 and 2021.
Blair was hired as Ohio Dominican's sports information director in 2000. He was elevated to the position of assistant athletic director in 2005, a role he held until 2010 when he was named the acting athletic director. He was promoted to the full-time athletic director role in 2011.
Blair is a 1998 graduate of the University of Findlay, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in sports management and was a four-time varsity baseball letterwinner. He went on to earn his Masters of Business Administration degree from Findlay as well, spending a year as a graduate assistant with the baseball team and a year with the sports information office.
Before arriving at Ohio Dominican, Blair volunteered on the regional crew for ESPN's College GameDay, assisting the production crew for game day operations in the Midwest. In 2001, he was honored by the College Sports Information Directors of America for publications excellence, winning second place for men's and women's soccer media guides.
Blair currently resides in Blacklick with his wife Lori and his children Mason, Abby and Nolan.
