Pete Thamel floats Ohio State DC Matt Patricia as possible head coaching candidate

With how many jobs are already open, and those that will continue to keep opening on this carousel, names you wouldn’t expect are going to come up as these searches all continue. That could lead some schools to consider options they never planned on beforehand, including one referenced by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

On the ‘College GameDay Podcast’ on Wednesday, Thamel noted that this could end up being a big cycle for assistants and coordinators to get head coaching jobs. Among those he named was Ohio State’s Matt Patricia, the first-year defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes, considering his resumé as well as the work he has done so far through just a couple of months there and in seven games with that unit in Columbus.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Matt Patricia ends up in one of these searches,” Thamel suggested. “That’s an instinct thing. But, like, he’s been a revelatory coordinator. In that building, they have loved Matt Patrica – loved him, loved him, loved him. His personality, his connection with players. You know, schematically? It’s been historically good. Interpersonally, it’s been unbelievable.”

Patricia has called one of the best units in all of college football with the defense for the Buckeyes, which is allowing just 5.9 points and 216.9 yards per game for the undefeated, top-ranked team in the country, in Ohio State. It’s that much more impressive considering it’s his first-ever real job in college football.

However, Patricia does have that extensive career, having worked in the NFL from 2004 to 2023 with the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles. Patricia was a defensive coach for the Patriots during their dynasty under Bill Belichick. During that time, he was part of three of the franchise’s five Super Bowl wins. He also spent time with the Eagles, and got three years as a head coach with the Lions, where he was 13-29-1 (314) from 2018 to 2020.

A college head coaching job would then be a whole different thing for Patricia at the college level. Still, considering the state of the job market, Patricia would more than warrant a call at some point, especially if his defense remains at the level it’s at for Ohio State.

“Now, he has not been in college very long. It probably would take a year or two. I have no idea if he wants to be a college coach, head coach. He’s so new to it,” Thamel said. “But, I think the results have been such where it would be foolish that, you know, for him not to be a name mentioned.”