After just one season on Ohio State's coaching staff, Ryan Day has already earned a promotion.
The Buckeyes' quarterbacks coach has been promoted from co-offensive coordinator to offensive coordinator, and will "work with Kevin Wilson to lead the Ohio State offense with additional adjustments to his responsibilities forthcoming," according to a university release.
"Ryan is clearly a very talented coach who has been an outstanding addition to our program," Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said. "He has been approached by other schools numerous times this offseason for coordinator and head coach opportunities, and by the National Football League for a coordinator opportunity. I am pleased that he has elected to continue to work on this staff and to lead, mentor and coach the terrific young men we have in this program."
According to a report from Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports, Day's additional responsibilities will include taking over playcalling duties for Ohio State's offense.
SOURCE: Ryan Day will handle play-calling at #OhioState as part of his promotion from co-OC/QB coach to offensive coordinator.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 23, 2018
The promotion could also mean that Day – who was already one of the two highest-paid Ohio State assistant coaches under contract for 2018, along with newly hired defensive assistant coach Alex Grinch, with a salary of $800,000 – is in line for a raise.
Day's promotion comes one day after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Day turned down an opportunity to become the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator. Meyer previously confirmed that Day also turned down a potential SEC head coaching opportunity to stay at Ohio State, while it was also rumored that Chip Kelly would try to hire Day as his offensive coordinator at UCLA.
"Ohio State is an outstanding place to be a coach, and Columbus is a great city for a young family," Day said. "I really enjoyed my first season with this program and I’m looking forward to the 2018 season and the opportunity to coach a very talented and hungry group of players."
Although he will no longer be the primary play caller, Wilson will remain in his role as offensive coordinator, an Ohio State spokesperson confirmed.
While Day was Wilson's subordinate in title last year, Day had already played an active role in the Buckeyes' game planning and play calling – particularly in the passing game – in his first season on staff. Though it remains to be seen what Wilson's exact responsibilities will be with Day's promotion, it's presumable that the two will continue to collaborate on game planning like they did last year, with Day focusing primarily on the passing game and Wilson focusing primarily on the running game.
In Day's first season leading the offense alongside Wilson, Ohio State tied for sixth in the nation in scoring offense (41.1 points per game) and ranked seventh nationally in total offense (506.0 yards per game). Day's role will become even more important for the 2018 season, however, as he will work alongside Meyer and Wilson to both oversee a starting quarterback competition – between Dwayne Haskins, Joe Burrow and Tate Martell – and then rebuild the offense around whoever wins that battle.
