COLUMBUS – Ryan Day has never been a college head coach but the 39-year-old has built a reputation and a resume.
The offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach who led the Buckeyes to a 3-0 record at the start of this season has been named to replace current head coach Urban Meyer when Meyer, 54, retires after the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
“It’s rare that you have the opportunity to create a succession plan where you have the right person in place,” Athletic Director Gene Smith said about the decision not to look outside the program for a new head coach. “Having someone to be able to continue the stability and consistency that we have was important to me.”
In his second year in Columbus after two seasons in the NFL, where he worked for Chip Kelly, and 13 additional seasons in the collegiate ranks, Day was named the Buckeyes’ 25th head coach with a five- contract worth $4.5 million a year.
Day took the job as quarterbacks coach at Ohio State prior to the 2016 season and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator last season. He served as acting head coach for victories this season over Oregon State, Rutgers and TCU while Meyer was serving a suspension for his handling of domestic abuse allegations against a former assistant.
“It didn’t take long for me to figure out what the expectations were of Ohio State football. Number one, win the rivalry game. And number two, win every game after that,” Day said.
“Now, if he wasn’t talented I wouldn’t have him here if he couldn’t X and O, let’s be clear,” Smith said. “He’s gotta win ball games. He knows that.”
Since Meyer’s return, Day has directed one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, led by record-breaking quarterback Dwayne Haskins, a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Ohio State ranks second nationally in total offense, No. 2 in passing and No. 8 in scoring heading into its Rose Bowl game against Washington. Day’s offense is on pace to set a Big Ten record for yards per game,
Day’s 13 years of collegiate coaching experience prior to Ohio State included offensive coordinator positions at Temple and Boston College, as well as positions with Florida – as a graduate assistant under Meyer – and at his alma mater, New Hampshire.
His NFL positions included quarterbacks coach with the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, both under Chip Kelly.
Day is a 2002 graduate of the University of New Hampshire and is married to his high school sweetheart, Christina. The couple has three children.