Ohio State set to hire Bill O'Brien as new offensive coordinator

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day isn’t done rebuilding his staff this offseason. On Thursday, Lettermen Row reported the program is expected to hire longtime NFL head coach Bill O’Brien as its next offensive coordinator. ESPN’s Pete Thamel provided further details on the hire.

“The move comes with a potential shift within the OSU program, as coach Ryan Day has spent part of this off-season exploring bringing in an experienced coordinator that would allow him to give up play calling duties,” Thamel wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Brian Hartline spent last season as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.

After spending five seasons serving as both Ohio State’s head coach and offensive coordinator, Day has opted to give up play-calling duties next season. O’Brien served as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator last season has been the head coach at the Texans and in the Big Ten at Penn State.

Ohio State averaged 407.9 yards of offense per game last season, ranking No. 47 in the country. The team particularly struggled in the ground game, averaging less rushing yards than more than half the teams in the nation.

Bill O’Brien’s stunning résumé

O’Brien boasts the résumé to fix such issues. Prior to serving as the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator this past season, O’Brien was the OC at Alabama during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

While with the Crimson Tide, Alabama averaged more than 41 points per game and went 24-4. In 2021, O’Brien boosted the Crimson Tide to roll into the College Football Playoff National Championship. He also mentored Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and Biletnikoff Award-winning wide receiver Jameson Williams.

Before coaching at Alabama, O’Brien was the head coach for the Houston Texans from 2014-20. He reached the playoffs four times and lead the Texans to a winning record five times. He finished his tenure in Houston with a 52-48 record.

Moreover, O’Brien was Penn State’s head coach in the 2012 and 2013 seasons, guiding the program to a 15-9 record. O’Brien was named the Bear Bryant, Maxwell Football Club and ESPN National Coach of the Year after winning more games than any other first-year head coach in the program’s previous 125 seasons.

O’Brien’s hire is only the latest change at Ohio State. The program decided to not bring back a pair of assistant coaches – safeties coach Perry Eliano and special teams coach Parker Fleming. Additionally, the school hired former Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork to serve the same role for the Buckeyes.