Kerry Coombs received a raise of $75,000 ahead of the 2017 football season, his fifth with Ohio State. The salary bump will carry a new title with it.
The Buckeyes promoted Coombs to assistant coordinator of their defense on Thursday after Coombs's cornerbacks unit served as a pillar of one of the top secondaries in the country last season. Ohio State intercepted 21 passes in 2016 and returned seven of them for touchdowns, the most in the nation.
“Kerry Coombs is absolutely deserving of this promotion to assistant coordinator, defense,” head coach Urban Meyer said in a press release. “He is an outstanding coach, instructor and mentor to the young men in this program. He is one of the best recruiters in the nation. He is incredibly loyal, and we at Ohio State are very fortunate that he loves this school and loves being a Buckeye.”
Coombs is in line to make $500,000 in base salary for the 2017 season as part of a 1-year contract he signed in April. He also coordinates Ohio State's special teams units and now appears to have even more responsibilities alongside other defensive coaches Greg Schiano, Bill Davis and Larry Johnson.
Coombs is responsible for a staggering line of NFL Draft success at the cornerback position, exporting four first-rounders over the last four seasons. Marshon Lattimore (11th overall to the New Orleans Saints) and Gareon Conley (24th overall to the Oakland Raiders) teamed up with safety Malik Hooker (15th overall) to give the Buckeyes a trio of players among the first 32 picks during April's draft.
Cornerbacks to play for Coombs since the coach arrived in Columbus with Meyer ahead of the 2012 season to get drafted:
- Marshon Lattimore — 11th overall, New Orleans Saints, 2017
- Gareon Conley — 24th overall, Oakland Raiders, 2017
- Eli Apple — 10th overall, New York Giants, 2016
- Doran Grant — 121st overall, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2015
- Bradley Roby — 31st overall, Denver Broncos, 2014
Additionally, Travis Howard signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans in spring 2013. Thus, every starter that Coombs has coached at Ohio State has made it to the NFL.
Coombs was also named 2017 national recruiter of the year by Rivals after laying the groundwork to sign five highly-ranked cornerbacks, including the top two in the country in Jeffrey Okudah and Shaun Wade and the best junior college prospect at the position, Kendall Sheffield.
