Ryan Day Says the Buckeyes Will “Take Our Time and Find the Right Guys” to Fill the Program’s Three Coaching Vacancies

Two weeks after he led Ohio State to a national championship, Ryan Day must replace his offensive line coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.

In an appearance on The Joel Klatt Show, Day said those circumstances, while challenging, are understandable given the Buckeyes' unprecedented title run in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Ultimately, that leaves Day excited for his assistants to embrace new opportunities in the sport as Justin Frye left for the Arizona Cardinals, Chip Kelly left for the Las Vegas Raiders and Jim Knowles left for Penn State.

"You're excited for guys," Day said. "Justin Frye has got a great opportunity to go into the NFL. And these opportunities come up when you win a championship like this. These guys are great coaches, and they have a chance to do different things."

Later in the podcast, Day addressed Kelly's decision to leave Ohio State for the Las Vegas Raiders, expressing gratitude that he and his lifelong mentor could win the national championship together in Columbus.

“To be able to have a beer in a few years and talk about the year that we had together is going to be special because we all started together, and this is where I started (coaching) with him,” Day said. “And we went and did that (won a national championship). And what a great story. And I know so many people back home in New Hampshire are just excited for him and for the story. It's pretty special.”

Day did not address Knowles' departure for State College.

With three full-time assistant positions open in Columbus, Day expects to fill those roles with the best candidates he can find.

“The good news is we're at Ohio State. We have some really good opportunities to hire some great people and fit them with some people who are really good young coaches – really good coaches that are rising stars here in the profession – and some guys with great experience,” Day said. “But this was going to be part of the deal. We knew that. I knew that right after the (championship) game. And so you have plans in place. But we're going to make sure we take our time and find the right guys because it's Ohio State, so you have the opportunity to get the best.”