Ohio State is set to bring in Bill O’Brien, the former head coach of the Houston Texans and Penn State, as the offensive coordinator, according to an undisclosed source familiar with the decision, reported by The Associated Press on Thursday night.
The source, speaking anonymously pending university approval, revealed that an official announcement is expected on Friday. ESPN initially broke the news of Ohio State’s hiring of O’Brien.
Ryan Day, the Buckeyes’ head coach, has been handling play-calling duties since his promotion from offensive coordinator to head coach in 2019, succeeding Urban Meyer. The addition of O’Brien, an experienced play-caller at both the college and NFL levels, could potentially allow Day to delegate those responsibilities.
Brian Hartline, who served as the offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes last season, will continue as the wide receivers coach. Despite a season record of 11-2, Ohio State ranked 25th in the nation in yards per play (6.38) in the previous season, marking their lowest performance since 2016.
O’Brien, 54, boasts a coaching history that includes seven seasons with the Houston Texans, where he achieved a 52-48 record from 2014-2020. He also had a two-year stint as head coach at Penn State, posting a 15-9 record while contending with NCAA sanctions in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. After being dismissed by the Texans, O’Brien returned to the college scene, serving as offensive coordinator at Alabama under Nick Saban for two years.
In the current NFL season, O’Brien rejoined the New England Patriots as offensive coordinator. His initial tenure with the Patriots, from 2007-2011, included serving as quarterbacks coach for Tom Brady from 2009-2011.
At Ohio State, O’Brien will have a promising roster to work with, including transfers such as quarterback Will Howard from Kansas State, running back Quinshon Judkins from Mississippi, and center Seth McLaughlin from Alabama.
The team also retains talented players like wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and running back TreVeyon Henderson, both of whom opted to return to school instead of entering the NFL draft.
In a related story, Ohio State is also looking toward the future of its safety room. The 2024 class brought in two safeties, with Jaylen McClain, a highly rated prospect from New Jersey, standing out.
Coach Ryan Day recognizes McClain’s potential role, especially with potential departures in the safety position after the 2024 season. Despite uncertainties in the safety room beyond 2025, Ohio State is hopeful that McClain, known for his versatility and tackling skills, can step up when needed.
Leave a Reply