Ohio State could make shocking hire at offensive coordinator after losing Bill O'Brien to Boston College
Bill O'Brien was the offensive coordinator at Ohio State for less than a month before rumors started swirling about him leaving to join Boston College. Today, reports surfaced that O'Brien's move to become the head coach at Boston College is all but official. So for the Buckeyes, what do they do now at offensive coordinator? […]
Bill O'Brien was the offensive coordinator at Ohio State for less than a month before rumors started swirling about him leaving to join Boston College. Today, reports surfaced that O'Brien's move to become the head coach at Boston College is all but official. So for the Buckeyes, what do they do now at offensive coordinator?
Ryan Day and Brian Hartline could simply redistribute offensive coordinator responsibilities among each other and just make do. That's one option. However, sources familiar with the decision making process began circulating rumors as early as Tuesday that a shocking splashy hired might be made.
Chip Kelly Fits Perfectly
Chip Kelly and Ryan Day have had a long-standing relationship that dates back to their time at New Hampshire together from 1998-2002. Kelly was the offensive coordinator there for Day's entire college career and his first year in coaching.
It's become a well known that Chip Kelly's primary passion is operating and calling offenses. He's not the most interested in recruiting, but Ohio State is an absolute machine when it comes to bringing in top talent. An opportunity with Ohio State would mean the perfect situation for Kelly where he can simply focus on making play calls with his highly potent and proven offense.
The national media has already been picking up the scent, and the dominoes seem like they're just too perfectly set not to fall into place.
Chip Kelly's offense at UCLA sputtered a bit in 2023 as they couldn't find the right fit at quarterback, rotating between three different options there. However, in the three years prior to last season Kelly's offenses finished 20th, 13th, and 8th in the nation in points scored per game. His lead running back Zach Charbonnet averaged more than seven yards per touch, and his dual-threat quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson had his best year scoring 30 touchdowns in 11 games, averaging nearly 300 total yards per game in 2022.
Kelly can still run an elite offense both on the ground, through the air, and works well with dual threat quarterbacks like the one Ohio State just brought in via transfer, Will Howard.
Kelly was apparently meeting with the Seahawks for a possible position earlier this week as well, but the pre-existing relationships and perfect fit may pull him towards the Buckeyes.
Your move, Ryan Day. Go get your guy. Kelly just might be the last piece to the national championship puzzle for Ohio State.
