Ohio State reaches $5.8M deal with retired president E. Gordon Gee

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio State University has announced a $5.8 million retirement package for E. Gordon Gee after his departure from the university because of comments jabbing Roman Catholics and Southeastern Conference schools.

The five-year contract with Gee includes a one-time payment of $1.5 million and an annual salary of $410,000.

The deal announced today also gives Gee a $300,000 annual grant for research on 21st-century education policy and retains him as a full professor in the university’s College of Law.

The 69-year-old Gee retired July 1, a decision he abruptly announced just a few days after remarks were first reported by The Associated Press that he made to the university’s Athletic Council in December.

Those comments also included remarks critical of Notre Dame, the Big Ten and the University of Arkansas football coach.