Former NFL Head Coach Surfaces as Candidate for Ohio State’s Defensive Coordinator Position
Coming off a national championship, Ohio State quickly saw multiple players announce they were going to the NFL. This was to be expected following the postseason success, but what was not as expected was the turnover the Buckeyes saw on the sidelines.
Ohio State lost both its offensive and defensive coordinators, and saw its offensive line coach leave as well. The Buckeyes spent the first couple weeks after the championship win filling up the coaching staff. With the offensive positions now filled and the defense likely soon to come, Ohio State can start planning on hosting some of the nation’s top recruits.
Spring is quickly approaching, and with that means spring practices with the upcoming roster of Buckeyes as well as spring recruiting camps. These recruiting camps will begin shortly, and some of the nation’s rising stars are already announcing upcoming visits, both official and unofficial with Ohio State.
Below are just some of the recruits to recently announce upcoming visits to Ohio State.
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.
Nonetheless, Ohio State made in house hires for the OC position as wide receiver coach Brian Hartline has accepted the role, and with the defensive job still open, former NFL head coach and longtime defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots during multiple Super Bowl runs, Matt Patricia has emerged as a potential candidate.
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.
