Thirteen months will have brought three new offensive coordinators through Columbus since Ryan Day decided to surrender play calling.
Chip Kelly, Day's mentor brought in to elevate Ohio State's offense after Bill O'Brien was hired in January 2024 only to leave in February 2024, is off the NFL to be the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. Day will now be replacing both his coordinators in the coming weeks as defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left for Penn State one week ago.
Though Kelly was only at Ohio State one season, he accomplished what he was brought in to do – he took over play calling, Day embraced a broader CEO role as head coach and the Buckeyes won a national championship, which will provide comfort as their offense is sorted out under new direction.
Former Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson immediately comes to mind as a strong candidate for the job, especially as he's currently a free agent after being fired from Tulsa's head coaching job. Promoting wide receivers coach Brian Hartline could also be an option, as could hiring another sitting head coach like Toledo’s Jason Candle or Akron’s Joe Moorhead.
Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope and Andy Anders share their thoughts on Kelly’s tenure, the impact of his departure and what Ohio State needs in his replacement on Press Coverage.
