Ole Miss set to add Ohio State quarterback coach Corey Dennis to staff
Ohio State made the decision to hire Bill O’Brien as its new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach earlier this month. Then-quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis was expected to remain on staff, but was instead reportedly hired by Utah as an analyst. But, even though O’Brien has now accepted the once vacant Boston College head coaching job, Dennis will not return to Columbus. He will instead head to Oxford, Miss., to join Lane Kiffin’s staff.
The news was first reported by OMSpirit Thursday after confirming it with the Ole Miss staff. He will presumably replace the vacancy left by offensive analyst Dane Stevens who left to accept the West Georgia offensive coordinator position.
He has been a part of four consecutive Big Ten Conference championship teams at Ohio State and also victories in the 2022 Rose Bowl, 2020 Fiesta Bowl, 2019 Rose Bowl, 2018 Cotton Bowl and the 2016 Fiesta Bowl.
Dennis spent nine seasons with the Buckeyes. He started his coaching career as an intern in 2015 and worked his way up to graduate assistant in 2016. Two seasons later, he was promoted to senior quality control coach before moving up to the full-time staff in 2020. Dennis served as Ohio State’s quarterbacks coach the past four seasons, mentoring some of the best signal callers in the country.
Despite not being retained at Ohio State, head coach Ryan Day praises Corey Dennis’ coaching chops.
“Corey is a talented young coach and someone I’ve worked closely alongside for three seasons,” Day said. “He knows our system and he knows how we teach. I think he is going to allow us to develop some continuity in the quarterback room, and that’s important.”
One of Dennis’ best attributes as a staffer is his ability to connect and sign some of the best quarterbacks in the country. In 2018, he recruited and worked closely with first round pick Dwayne Haskins before ultimately guiding future No. 11 overall pick Justin Fields to an All-American season. Later, he coached CJ Stroud to a Heisman Trophy finalist campaign as well as being named Big Ten Player and Quarterback of the Year. All three combined for 135 touchdowns during their Heisman finalist seasons.
Corey Dennis went on quite the recruiting heater prior to leaving Ohio State.
The newest Ole Miss staffer was the primary recruiter for former 2021 No. 2 overall recruit Quinn Ewers, 2022 No. 1 overall recruit Devin Brown, 2023 four-star Lincoln Kienholz, 2024 four-star Air Noland and 2025 No. 10 overall recruit Tavien St. Clair. On top of the success at the quarterback position, he also recruited four-star and Freshman All-American Denzel Burke.
On3’s Spencer Holbrook covered Corey Dennis during his time at Ohio State.
The team site writer had nothing but high marks for Dennis.
“He helped recruit C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller to the same class,” Holbrook said. “He was close with five-stars Devin Brown and Kyle McCord. Good relationship builder with high school programs and recruits.”
Dennis played his college ball at Georgia Tech. There he was a wide receiver for Paul Johnson. He also played in the secondary and was a key special team’s performer. He finished his career, playing in all 54 games and won two ACC division titles.
His father, Steve Dennis, played college football at Georgia and was the athletic director at Troy from 2005 to 2012. He is married to Nicki Meyer, the daughter of former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.
