If Ryan Day and the Ohio State soccer program wished to take a deep sigh, get on the yoga mat, and have fun the nationwide championship it received as part of the first-ever 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff, it was short-lived. That is as a result of there was barely time for a celebration lower than per week faraway from all of the confetti falling inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium after the win over Notre Dame earlier than some teaching employees dominoes started to fall.
First, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles seemingly air-lifted out of Columbus and parachuted into Pleased Valley to carry out the identical duties at Massive Ten rival Penn State. That appeared like a little bit of a intestine punch, however that was adopted by offensive line coach, Justin Frye, accepting a climb up the teaching ladder to the NFL because the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive line coach. And now, Sunday, when rumors of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly being courted by NFL groups got here to fruition with him being employed by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Whew.
So, now right here we’re. Day should exchange three main assistant positions on his employees, not the least of which being the offensive coordinator submit which appears to be a more durable job to fill than an evening shift offshore tax collector. So the place does Day flip when looking for a alternative for his mentor, pal, and former offensive coordinator? All we will do is speculate, however usually this stuff come right down to relationships and manufacturing. So, with that in thoughts, listed here are 5 names that may make sense with regards to the following offensive coordinator for YOUR defending nationwide champion Ohio State Buckeyes subsequent season.
Kevin Wilson, former Tulsa head coach and Buckeye offensive coordinator
Why not begin with a man that is already completed it earlier than? Positive, Wilson was by no means the first play caller, however he labored as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator from 2017 to 2022. That crossed over by means of the City Meyer to Day transition and the present head coach and he seemingly match nicely collectively. Additionally, Wilson’s son, Toby, was part of the Ohio State group this season and there is greater than somewhat familiarity there. He has head teaching expertise and an extended historical past of being an offensive thoughts. It is perhaps time to carry him again and switch issues over to him absolutely this subsequent season.
Brian Hartline, Ohio State co-offensive coordinator/vast receivers coach
Hartline appeared to be the offensive coordinator in ready when he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2023. Not many understand that he nonetheless holds that title in the present day alongside along with his function with the vast receivers. The difficulty is that Day by no means appeared to belief him absolutely to be the first play caller, as an alternative electing to rent Kelly when it got here time to step away and focus extra on a CEO sort of function and delegate offensive play calling. Nevertheless, Hartline has nonetheless had enter, and if he is been capable of earn the belief of Day, it might be pure to only announce that he is taking up major tasks for the offense. He is a heck of a recruiter and developer I feel you’re taking the prospect of alienating him if he is handed over this time round. That too, may consider as a result of he is in demand in teaching circles.
Ryan Day, Ohio State head coach
What if — stick with me right here — issues simply return to the best way they have been when Day labored with Hartline and others on employees to generate a sport plan after which the pinnacle man could be the man calling the performs on sport day? A man who has the creativity and knack for calling offensive performs would not simply lose that itch and ability, and if Day can set issues up the place his different coaches can run issues at a excessive stage, then it isn’t wild to suppose that Day simply takes over play calling duties for subsequent season. Particularly with among the hirings and employees modifications already happening throughout faculty soccer whereas Ohio State was occurring its memorable Faculty Soccer Playoff run.
Joe Moorhead, Akron head coach
This one is not essentially a few former relationship however extra like what Day did with the hiring of Jim Knowles. Typically you simply go after the most effective guys on the market, and Moorhead matches this invoice. Moorhead is well-respected as an offensive play caller. He has had stops very profitable stops as an offensive coordinator at Penn State and Oregon (the place he helped orchestrate a win in Columbus in 2021). Issues have not gone in addition to a head coach at Mississippi State and Akron (at present), however he has the chops to return in and do what he did because the offensive coordinator at different high-level stops.
Pat Shurmur, Colorado offensive coordinator
I have never seen this identify talked about a lot, however stick with me right here. I discussed this stuff might be about relationships and you need to suppose that Day will lean on his mentor turned employees member, Kelly, with regards to options on hiring the man to interchange him. Shurmur was Kelly’s offensive coordinator throughout his stint within the NFL with the Eagles and could be a very good match to carry the identical sort of ideas, scheme, and tendencies. Shurmur, like others Day has gone after, additionally has NFL head teaching expertise besides. With the yearly rumor mill occurring his present boss, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, entertaining different teaching presents to the NFL, it is perhaps a safer spot to land anyhow. This is perhaps off the radar a bit, however so was the hiring of Invoice O’Brien and Chip Kelly. You recognize Day will swing exhausting at an incredible rent, and he may do loads worse than this.
Contact/Observe us @BuckeyesWire on X (previously Twitter) and like our web page on Fb to comply with ongoing protection of Ohio State information, notes and opinion. Observe Phil Harrison on X.
This text initially appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State offensive coordinator search: 5 names to interchange Chip Kelly
