Updated Ohio State Football Offensive Coordinator Hot Board: Familiar name may no longer make sense for the Buckeyes
The search for Ohio State’s next offensive coordinator could go multiple ways after Brian Hartline exits.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have a lot on their plate over the next month. Not only the College Football Playoff, but also roster retention and coaching searches need to be handled.
With Brian Hartline on his way out after the CFP, the Buckeyes need a new offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Former Buckeyes OC Chip Kelly’s name was thrown around for the offensive coordinator position, but that’s unlikely to happen at this point, as he’s interviewing elsewhere. With that being said, a few names make sense to be the next offensive coordinator in Columbus.
Brian Daboll
Brian Daboll was the head coach of the New York Giants and has a strong track record of working with quarterbacks, including the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen. Daboll was rumored to be a candidate for the Penn State coaching job, but that wasn’t the way that the Nittany Lions went.
Daboll is a great offensive mind with experience at the college and pro levels. Ryan Day went to the NFL ranks to get his defensive coordinator with Matt Patricia, maybe he does that here.
Kevin Wilson
While Kelly doesn’t make this list, another former offensive coordinator does. Kevin Wilson was with the Buckeyes from 2017 through 2022 before leaving to take the head coaching job at Tulsa. Wilson was very good at his job in Columbus, and that helped him land the head coaching gig. Wilson was let go after the 2024 season and is now an offensive analyst with Oklahoma.
J.T. Barrett
The former Ohio State starting quarterback didn’t put together much of a pro career, but he’s quickly climbing the coaching ranks. J.T. Barrett started as an offensive assistant with the Detroit Lions in 2022 before becoming the assistant quarterbacks coach the next two seasons.
Barrett is now the quarterbacks coach for the Chicago Bears under head coach Ben Johnson. He has worked closely with Johnson and is already highly thought of. It may be too early for Barrett to be an OC at a place like Ohio State, but the interest should at least be there.
Keenan Bailey
If Day elevates someone on the staff to offensive coordinator, it should be the current tight ends coach. Bailey started with the Buckeyes in 2016 as an offensive intern and held that role for three seasons. Since then, he’s worked his way from quality offensive quality control to tight ends coach.
Bailey is a strong recruiter and is highly thought of by the staff in Columbus. The question is whether Day is comfortable with him calling plays.
Todd Monken
Monken is a veteran offensive mind who is also receiving interest in the NFL to be a head coach. The thing with Monken is that John Harbaugh was just fired as the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach — and Monken could be out of a job with that happening. Monken has had past success at Georgia where he won a pair of national championships as the play caller. Ohio State could put him in a play-calling role where he wouldn’t have to worry about recruiting.
Ohio State Buckeyes News
Ohio State Buckeyes should act on bringing a potential defensive star in that just made it clear he’s entering the NCAA Transfer Portal
It could be a clear transfer portal move for Ryan Day and Ohio State to make.
