Hiring a new defensive coordinator just became the top priority to start Ohio State’s offseason.
With Jim Knowles’ decision to leave Ohio State for Penn State on Sunday, the Buckeyes must now find his replacement. Whoever replaces Knowles will inherit a defense that ranked No. 1 in the FBS this past season but will be replacing eight starters, though it will be led by college football’s best safety in Caleb Downs.
As Ohio State’s defensive coordinator search officially begins, we take a look at 11 potential candidates who could warrant consideration from the Buckeyes. We start with the two current staffers who could be candidates for the job, followed by five external candidates who could make sense for the Buckeyes based on their coaching history and/or Ohio State ties. Finally, we look at four coaches who are likely long shots to become Ohio State’s defensive coordinator but who Ryan Day should call nonetheless to see if they’d be interested.
Internal Candidates
Matt Guerrieri, Ohio State safeties coach
The early rumor is that Guerrieri could be the leading candidate to replace Knowles, which makes Day’s comments about Guerrieri during Sunday’s national championship celebration seem notable.
“One of the brightest minds in college football, and I’m telling you, a star in the making,” Day said while introducing Guerrieri to the crowd.
Guerrieri was brought to Ohio State because of his ability to coach Knowles’ system, which could make him a natural heir apparent if the Buckeyes choose to prioritize continuity. Promoting Guerrieri would allow Ohio State to continue running the same defensive scheme that it used to win a national championship this past season while also keeping a sense of familiarity with its defensive players rather than forcing them to learn how to play for a new coordinator. And it’s a move that would likely come with the endorsement of Downs, who earned unanimous All-American honors under Guerrieri’s tutelage this past season.
Guerrieri was the lead defensive play caller at Indiana in 2023 and was also previously the co-defensive coordinator at Duke from 2018-21. His results in those roles weren’t spectacular – none of those defenses ranked in the top 50 nationally in total defense or top 70 nationally in scoring defense – but he’s also never had the opportunity to call plays for a defense with anywhere near the talent he’d have at his disposal at Ohio State.
Tim Walton, Ohio State secondary coach
The other internal candidate to replace Knowles would be Walton, who has experience as a defensive coordinator in both college football (Miami in 2007, Memphis in 2008) and the NFL (St. Louis Rams, 2013).
Having firmly established himself as one of college football’s elite secondary coaches over the past three years at Ohio State, Walton has a résumé that would befit a promotion with three decades of coaching experience in either the NFL or the FBS. His defensive backs have led the way for Ohio State’s pass defense to be the best in the country for each of the past two seasons, while he’s also emerged as one of college football’s best recruiters.
Promoting Walton to defensive coordinator would likely be a popular move among both players and coaches inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. It’s been more than a decade since Walton has been a defensive play caller, however, so he might be best suited to remain in his current role and continue to focus on developing Ohio State’s defensive backs to be the “Best in America.”
