Ryan Day's biggest staffing decision after National Championship run called 'The perfect transition'
The Ohio State Buckeyes made the bold decision to go with a younger, more energized coaching staff after winning their first national title in a decade. Ryan Day watched Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles bolt the program after proving themselves along the historic run through the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. He's banking on the […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes made the bold decision to go with a younger, more energized coaching staff after winning their first national title in a decade. Ryan Day watched Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles bolt the program after proving themselves along the historic run through the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. He's banking on the program, recovering through a blend of internal promotions and carefully considered external hires.
The most important staffing decision Day has announced thus far is his promotion of Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator with playcalling duties. Hartline will serve alongside Keenan Bailey as the co-OC, which is a head-scratcher, but Hartline will be the bigger presence in the room.
Andy Staples of On3 ranked the most impactful coordinator hires of the college football season, and Hartline made the list as the No. 3 move. It trailed only Ryan Grubb's predictable decision to join Kalen DeBoer in Alabama and Knowles' departure to Penn State.
Here's what Staples said of the promotion:
Hartline is the best receivers coach in America. He hasn’t previously been a playcaller, but the Buckeyes probably owe him a shot at the role after all he’s done as an on-field coach and recruiter.
Last year’s decision by Ryan Day to give up playcalling was made easier by the fact that Chip Kelly — Day’s college coach and professional mentor — was willing to leave the UCLA head coach job to call plays in Columbus. (After original hire Bill O’Brien got the head coach job at Boston College.) That probably was the perfect transition, because Day trusted Kelly more than anyone else who could have held that role.
This will be different. Day has to give Hartline a chance to grow into the role, but Day also is the most experienced offensive playcaller in the building. So if he needs to jump in, he can. Plus, the hiring of Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen as offensive line coach/run game coordinator feels like insurance.
All of these coaches know more about playcalling than me, but a humble suggestion of “When in doubt, throw it toward Jeremiah Smith” seems appropriate.
The line Buckeyes fans want to pay attention to most? It's not that the move to hire Hartline was what Staples was referring to as "the perfect transition" (that was the move from Bill O'Brien to Chip Kelly), but that the addition of Tyler Bowen will supplement Hartline's promotion.
Day's actions, including giving Bailey the new co-OC moniker, speaks to continuing to support Hartline's journey into a huge role increase. That in itself should eventually make this the perfect transition as Day gets ready to pull up his sleeves to get dirty alongside Hartline.
