Ryan Day has gone back to the NFL to make another hire for Ohio State football’s coaching staff after bringing in Arthur Smith

Ryan Day clearly wants folks with NFL experience involved at Ohio State.

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer
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Ryan Day had a big decision on his hands with Brian Hartline’s departure this offseason. The Ohio State Buckeyes hiring Arthur Smith from the NFL was the big coaching staff change the Buckeyes made after the 2025 season came to an end. 

With Smith and Matt Patricia on staff, it’s clear Day wants NFL guys around the program. Now, he’s adding another assistant with experience in the pros.

Ohio State makes an NFL hire for its offensive coaching staff 

According to Lettermen Row, Ohio State has hired former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive assistant Mateo Kambui to be an assistant offensive line coach. Kambui replaces Marcus Johnson after the former Buckeye assistant took the offensive line job with the Arkansas Razorbacks. 

Kambui has followed Smith around in the NFL between stops with the Atlanta Falcons and Steelers. Kambui was an offensive assistant the last two years in Pittsburgh and before then he was the Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship in Atlanta. 

With Kambui following Smith from Atlanta to Pittsburgh and now making the jump to college football and Columbus, he’s clearly someone the offensive coordinator sees strong potential in and wants around. 

Kambui got his NFL coaching start with a coaching fellowship with the Denver Broncos and held the position for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Kambui’s college experience includes being the running backs coach at Florida A&M where he played, and a graduate assistant job at Georgia Southern. 

Tyler Bowen will remain Ohio State’s offensive line coach, entering his second season with the program. Kambui will add some NFL coaching experience to the offensive line position group. 

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