Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports reported Tuesday night Ohio State is expected to hire former Indiana coach Kevin Wilson as its next offensive coordinator. This further bolsters the rumor that the ex-Hoosiers boss is headed to Columbus, as Crimson Quarry first reported earlier Tuesday.
Wilson resigned as head coach of the Hoosiers on Dec. 1, five days after the team defeated in-state foe Purdue to finish the 2016 season 6-6 and become bowl eligible. Wilson signed a six-year, $15 million contract on Jan. 11, the day of the national championship between Clemson and Alabama. It signaled Indiana was in it with him for the long haul after he morphed the Hoosiers from Big Ten doormat to respectable program in five seasons.
But an investigation into player treatment that began in 2015 ultimately ended with pressure from Wilson's higher ups to quit or be fired but above all his time in Indiana coming to a close. An offensive guru, Wilson was 26-47 in six years at Indiana but appeared to have things heading in the right direction before the allegations that he questioned the toughness of his players and forced them to either practice or play injured surfaced.
Wilson would represent yet another fine football mind added to Meyer's staff in Columbus as the college football arm's race rolls along. Meyer hired Ryan Day to be his quarterbacks coach as well, in place of Tim Beck, who left for Texas earlier Tuesday.
Wilson's Hoosiers made life tough on Ohio State since Meyer arrived in Columbus. The Buckeyes beat Indiana 38-17 in Ohio Stadium on Oct. 8. The Hoosiers held J.T. Barrett to 93 passing yards in that game, after which Wilson called Barrett "the best quarterback in college ball."
"Some of these (other quarterbacks) got some stats, I'm not saying it because he's in our league. I'm not a homer," Wilson said. "He might have been off today, but that's a good football player. He's human. I think J.T. Barrett is an awesome football player."
As of now, it's unclear how this move would affect Ed Warinner's status with the team. Though, it should be noted the NCAA is expected to approve a 10th assistant coach with a vote in April.
Ohio State opens its 2017 season against Wilson's former employer on Aug. 31 in Bloomington. He also worked at Oklahoma from 2002-10. The Buckeyes host the Sooners on Sept. 9.
Ohio State did not immediately respond to request for comment on the report Tuesday evening.
