Ohio State is searching for three assistant coaches following a wave of departures after their national championship victory last month.
Head coach Ryan Day faces significant staff turnover as the team prepares for the 2025 season. The program lost both coordinators and its offensive line coach in recent weeks.
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly became the latest departure, accepting the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports Kelly’s deal averages $6 million annually, making him the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator.
The @Raiders told candidates during their search they were making a serious commitment with a bunch of cash from the new owners. Here it is—Chip Kelly was lured to Vegas with a deal averaging $6 million per year, per sources. Kelly is now the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL.
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left for Penn State, while offensive line coach Justin Frye joined the Arizona Cardinals staff.
The coaching changes come as Ohio State manages potential transfer portal movement, including efforts to retain five-star receiver Jeremiah Smith.
The Buckeyes will also need to replace several NFL-bound players, including:
- Jack Sawyer
- Will Howard
- Quinshon Judkins
- TreVeyon Henderson
Despite these departures, Ohio State retains a talented roster for the incoming offensive coordinator to utilize.
