Former NFL Head Coach Surfaces as Candidate for Ohio State’s Defensive Coordinator Position
The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off an impressive run to the national championship where they were able to capture their ninth title in the programs history and the first under head coach Ryan Day.
However, with winning, often comes changes and that’s what occurred this offseason on their coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly left for the NFL to take the same with the Las Vegas Raiders, and shockingly defensive coordinator Jim Knowles departed for Penn State’s DC position after being offered more money.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off an impressive run to the national championship where they were able to capture their ninth title in the programs history and the first under head coach Ryan Day.
However, with winning, often comes changes and that’s what occurred this offseason on their coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly left for the NFL to take the same with the Las Vegas Raiders, and shockingly defensive coordinator Jim Knowles departed for Penn State’s DC position after being offered more money.
Patricia last coached in college in 2003, with Syracuse University, but has since found immense success at the NFL level, particularly in coaching and leading defenses. He spent 15 years as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots, serving as their defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2017, where they won two Super Bowl titles.
From 2018 to 2020, Patricia was the head coach of the Detroit Lions. While his tenure with the organization didn’t bring much success, he still brings a wealth of experience and strong defensive knowledge. Most recently, he coached the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense in 2023.
Although the Buckeyes have plenty of time to weigh their options and could opt for an in-house hire, as they did on the offensive side of the ball, the defensive coordinator position remains a critical one to fill. Jim Knowles played a vital role in rejuvenating the Buckeyes’ defense into one of the best in the country.
Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen is leaving Blacksburg. According to Pete Nekos on On3, the Ohio State Buckeyes are hiring Bowen as their new offensive line coach.
A native of Helena, Georgia, Bowen played offensive line at Maryland under Ralph Friedgen. He immediately jumped into coaching in 2010, serving as a student assistant before a two-year run as a graduate assistant.
After one year at Towson, Bowen landed at Penn State as a grad assistant in 2014 under James Franklin. Bowen met Franklin while he served as Friedgen’s offensive coordinator at Maryland. This is where Bowen first met Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry.
