Ohio State welcomed its new President, Ravi V. Bellamkonda, on March 12, 2026. This “swift and historic” promotion occurred just three days after the resignation of former president Ted Carter. Bypassing the traditional national search that typically takes months, the University Board of Trustees elevated Bellamkonda from his role as Executive Vice President and Provost. Fans, however, will be interested in how he bonds with head coach Ryan Day, since football is a huge part of Ohio State’s identity. It looks like the two have already hit it off. 

“Ravi and I spoke last night,” Day said at Bellamkonda’s introductory press conference. “He shared to me how important athletics is to our student experience and all Buckeyes across the globe. As we know, excellence is the standard here at Ohio State. That includes the classroom, health care, research and winning championships on the field…I’m looking forward to working with Ravi, to continue our excellence, as we take it to new levels.”

Football sets OSU apart from other colleges, which is why he and Day must be on the same page from Day 1. According to a ranking released by The Athletic last year, Buckeye football stands tall as the top college football program since 2000. The program boasts a .840 win percentage, and the most Top 10 wins when it comes to Day’s squad. Football is also a big revenue driver for other OSU sports. Ravi Bellamkonda acknowledged Ohio State’s athletic might in his welcome message.

“We’ve come to know and love Ohio State as a true powerhouse, across academics, athletics, research and health care, where people care about one another just as much as they care about excellence”. The new president also made a specific promise to maintain the university’s competitive edge. “Together, we will take on hard things worth doing. In athletics, health care, education and, in fact, in all the things we do. We will not be afraid to lead”.

Bellamkonda is the first president in over a century to be elevated directly from within the university’s internal leadership. His promotion to president is a huge change for Ryan Day, since former president Ted Carter was a clear supporter of the coach. Former head coach Urban Meyer warned that this change needs to be smooth and that the two need to see eye-to-eye, he said on the Triple Option Podcast. During his tenure, he saw Gordon Gee retire from the president’s post, who was replaced by Michael V. Drake. Meyer said he didn’t feel confident enough during this change of hands.

He held his own and ended his stint as one of OSU’s winningest coaches, a club that Ryan Day is also part of. But how he fares under the new president can dictate whether or not he is able to stay there. But looking at how he and Bellamkonda are bonding, it seems like he’ll be able to hold his place as well.

Athletic Director, Ross Bjork also publicly congratulated Bellamkonda, stating he looked forward to continuing their momentum as leaders in higher education. Board Chair John Zeiger and other trustees praised Bellamkonda as a “higher-education innovator” with a “strong track record” who could maintain the university’s excellence.

As president, Ravi now leads one of the nation’s largest public institutions, which oversees almost 67,000 students. His contract officially began on March 12, 2026, and runs through June 2031.

Ryan Day took the initiative to officially welcome Ravi Bellamkonda

The Buckeyes’ head coach already has his hands full with spring camp and recruitment. However, he still took out some time to make sure Ravi Bellamkonda knows he is on the same team. Day took some time out from practice to attend the new president’s press conference.

Bellamkonda, honored by the welcome, also made sure to send him back to practice a happy man. He found out that it was Day’s birthday, and wished him before the coach walked away. Day and Bellamkonda were all smiles in this short interaction. From this preview of the new power duo, it looks as if they are teaming up to take the Ohio State University to the next level.

There have been some reactions that are critical of this choice. Some praised the board’s decisiveness in preventing a leadership vacuum. But some others have criticized the process as “hasty and secretive” for lacking the input from any of the larger community of Buckeyes.

The new president has only been at Columbus for a little over a year, but has become a thorough Buckeye in this short span of time. How he carries the mantle of OSU being an athletic leader, along with bolstering the school’s academic footprint, will be his biggest test. He hopes to count on Ryan Day for some crucial support, and the coach will also look forward to having Bellamkonda’s backing. After all, Ted Carter called the new president the “most important” hire he’s ever made.