Ryan Day
Head coach
Eighth season leading the Buckeyes, with the 2024 national championship to his name.
Big Ten · Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State Football Coaching Staff 2026
Head coach and coordinators
2026 record4-1
Coaching staff
OSU coaches
Ryan Day enters an eighth season with the largest and most experienced staff the program has assembled — twelve full-time assistants led by two former NFL head coaches, with a dedicated coordinator for each unit.
Leadership
Offense
Arthur Smith
Offensive coordinator
First season. Former Atlanta Falcons head coach and Tennessee and Pittsburgh offensive coordinator, with 17 years of NFL experience.
Keenan Bailey
Co-offensive coordinator / Tight ends
Second season in the role.
Tyler Bowen
Run game coordinator / Offensive line
Billy Fessler
Pass game coordinator / Quarterbacks
Cortez Hankton
Wide receivers
New for 2026.
Carlos Locklyn
Running backs
Defense
Matt Patricia
Defensive coordinator
Second season, after a first year that produced one of the nation's best defenses. Former New England defensive coordinator and Detroit Lions head coach.
Larry Johnson
Associate head coach / Defensive line
Long-serving and among the most respected defensive line coaches in the sport.
Tim Walton
Assistant head coach / Co-defensive coordinator / Cornerbacks
Matt Guerrieri
Pass game coordinator / Safeties
James Laurinaitis
Linebackers
Former Ohio State linebacker and three-time All-American.
Specialists
Robby Discher
Special teams coordinator
New for 2026, arriving from three seasons at Illinois.
The player list is the complete 2026 roster as published by the program; coaching staff reflects the same official listing. Rosters move through the transfer portal year-round, so check the official program site for the definitive list on any given day.
Staff coverage
Ohio State listed coaching roles
This profile lists 13 staff members for Ohio State. Responsibilities are grouped as follows: Defense: 5; Leadership: 1; Offense: 6; Specialists: 1.
Titles describe the published staff listing. They do not establish who calls plays or whether every support role is included.
FAQ
Ohio State football coaching staff FAQs
Who is the head coach of Ohio State?
Ryan Day is listed as head coach in the team profile reviewed on 2026-09-03.
Does this page list the entire football staff?
It contains 13 published staff entries. Recruiting, operations and other support roles may not be included; the page does not claim a complete staff directory.
Why did Ohio State replace its offensive coordinator?
Brian Hartline left to become head coach at South Florida after three seasons calling the offense. Day replaced him with Arthur Smith, who arrives from the Pittsburgh Steelers and previously spent three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Who is Ohio State's defensive coordinator?
Matt Patricia, entering his second season. He is a former New England defensive coordinator and Detroit Lions head coach, and works alongside Tim Walton, the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
How much does Ohio State spend on its coaching staff?
The assistant coaching budget passed $15 million, the largest ever assembled by a college program. Day's argument for it is a recruiting one: with two former NFL head coaches on staff and a coordinator for every unit, players who intend to reach the NFL are coached the way they would be there.
Does Ohio State have a special teams coordinator?
Yes, Robby Discher, new for 2026 after three seasons at Illinois. The hire was part of the expansion to twelve assistants and means every unit now has a dedicated coordinator alongside its position coach.
Which former Ohio State players coach on the staff?
James Laurinaitis coaches the linebackers, having played the position in Columbus and been named an All-American three times. Larry Johnson, the associate head coach, has run the defensive line since 2014 and is among the most respected position coaches in the sport.
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