2025 E. Gordon Gee Spirit Of Ohio State Award

Ohio State Ushers and Redcoats may be the best-kept secret to a fantastic game day experience at the Ohio Stadium.

Sure, the football players and Ohio State band are important, and so are the 100,000 fans. They create a sense of magic and energy. Yet these huge events wouldn’t be possible without the 1,200 Ushers and Redcoats working to ensure the entire event runs smoothly.

“We’re true ambassadors of the university because all 1,200 of us interact with the fans,” says Trevor Zahara ‘71. “It’s up to us to provide a safe, fun and entertaining environment for our fans.”

Their jobs appear straightforward. Ushers help guests find their seats and manage crowds while Redcoats scan tickets and serve patrons in the suites. Yet both groups go far beyond those duties, from providing first aid to answering countless questions to calming rowdy fans, ultimately creating a positive environment for everyone in attendance.

“I’ve seen families grow up together,” says Zahara, an usher for 30 years who always works in section 8B. “When I first started, I met a couple who brought their daughter and son with them. The son grew up and had triplets, and he brought them to the games. And just this last season, the three boys came in and gave me a bear hug. They’re all Ohio State graduates now.”

Eric Johnston ’87 is a Redcoat, just as his parents were before him. “There are a lot of multi-family groups working as Redcoats and Ushers,” he says. “You’ll find grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces and grandchildren.”

A Redcoat for 16 years, Johnston values being part of the team. “Thousands of people work in the stadium, and each one of us is a small cog in the wheel, but collectively we make amazing things happen.”

Ushers and Redcoats have a proud history, says Evan Derr, event director at Ohio State. The local Boy Scouts of America Council were the original ushers at the Ohio Stadium and still volunteer to this day. In the 1960s, as crowds swelled, other volunteers signed up to usher.

The Redcoats arrived in 1956 when St. John Arena was built. “The old tale is that the athletic director let them pick out their uniform jacket,” Derr says. “At the time, the varsity letterman jacket for athletes was gray, so the staff decided to get red coats. Hence the name was born.” Eventually Redcoats also worked at Ohio Stadium.

Both groups were volunteers until 2016, when Ohio State hired them as part-time employees. The staff also works at concerts and events, and they serve all 36 varsity sports at Ohio State in multiple venues. Anyone 18 years or older can apply for a job. “You just need an eager willingness to help people,” Derr says.