When Ohio State lost key assistants like Chip Kelly and Brian Hartline, head coach Ryan Day remained calm. Instead of worrying about the gaps left by their departures, Day moved swiftly to replace them with experienced former NFL coaches. This approach has already proven effective, and it reflects a lesson Day learned from former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer.
Meyer once advised Day on how to address concerns from recruits about his future with the program. During a recruiting meeting, a family questioned whether Day would still be with the team if he left. Rather than promising permanence, Meyer simply said, 'We’ll just go get the next best guy out there.' That mindset has clearly taken root with Day, who hasn’t panicked over the losses of Hartline or others.
This year, Day continued the trend by hiring former NFL head coach Arthur Smith as his new offensive coordinator. While Smith's tenure in professional football has had its ups and downs, his experience in professional play-calling brings a valuable edge to the Buckeyes. Day's strategy of bringing in proven NFL talent is shaping the team’s coaching staff into one that closely resembles a pro operation.
Day's confidence in this approach is further supported by recent hires, such as Matt Patricia, who also came from the NFL. These choices highlight Day's ability to maintain a high level of performance at Ohio State, even with constant staff turnover. The current staff's blend of experience and fresh perspectives appears to be working well.
Despite the ongoing challenges of retaining top assistants, Day has successfully led Ohio State to remain a powerhouse in college football. He's optimistic about the future, particularly with Arthur Smith's hiring. 'The safe bet is that Smith will be another home run hire,' Day said, showing his trust in the strategy that has already served the Buckeyes well.