Graduate assistant James Laurinaitis explains taking Ohio State coaching job

Ohio State added one of its former players to the ranks of the coaching staff last week, tabbing linebacker James Laurinaitis as a graduate assistant.

Laurinaitis leaped at the opportunity to return to the place he starred at from 2005-08.

“It’s my alma mater,” Laurinaitis said. “I love the game of football and I love working with young people, so that’s why I got into coaching. You want to impact the kids on the field, but more importantly you want to leave, after building relationships with them, as better men. Hopefully give them an example of what being a good husband and father can be. Same thing that Luke Fickell did for me and same thing that Jim Tressel did for me.”

Laurinaitis will carry plenty of cache with him.

In four years he totaled 375 tackles, 24.5 tackles for a loss, 13.0 sacks, nine interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and nine passes defended.

He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2006, won the Butkus Award in 2007, won the Lott Trophy in 2008 and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in both 2007 and 2008.

He was also a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and a three-time consensus All-American (2006-08).

James Laurinaitis returning home to Ohio State

Even as a graduate assistant, James Laurinaitis will certainly command some attention. And Laurinaitis is all too thrilled to be giving back in a place he called home for several years.

He arrives after having spent the 2022 season as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame, working under his former Ohio State teammate Marcus Freeman.

“You pair that with your alma mater, you pair that with Columbus, Ohio,” Laurinaitis said. “And when it became something that could happen I asked my wife and our girls and it was pure giddiness at that point that we could be coming back home. So it was a great opportunity and thankful for coach (Ryan) Day for providing it.”