Ryan Day releases statement on Chip Kelly hire, Bill O'Brien departure

Ohio State made it official Friday night, announcing Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator. Kelly left UCLA to take the job under Ryan Day, who played quarterback for him at New Hampshire and previously worked under him.

Kelly signed a three-year contract with the Buckeyes through 2026 and is replacing Bill O’Brien, who was previously announced as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He left to replace Jeff Hafley at Boston College, and Day didn’t waste any time replacing him, hiring Kelly the same day O’Brien was announced as the Eagles’ next head coach.

In his statements, Day welcomed Kelly to Columbus and shared well-wishes for O’Brien in his next venture.

“We are extremely excited to have Chip and his wife, Jill, joining our program,” Day said in a statement. “His experience as a head coach at Oregon, UCLA and in the NFL will bring immediate value to our entire team. I am really looking forward to reconnecting with Chip, introducing him to our staff and team and chasing a championship together.

“I would also like to wish coach Bill O’Brien and his family well as he takes over at Boston College.”

Kelly spent the last six seasons as the head coach at UCLA, amassing a 35-34 overall record and a 26-24 mark in Pac-12 play in Brentwood. He also has head coaching experience at Oregon, where he had a 46-7 record over four years, and went 28-35 in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.

The connection to Day was a big reason why Kelly is leaving to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Not only did Day play for Kelly at UNH, but he worked for him 2002 and was the quarterbacks coach for the Eagles and 49ers.

After O’Brien’s departure, Day moved swiftly to replace him, and he adds some big-time experience to his staff.

“It was quick work by Ohio State,” Thamel said on SportsCenter. “Ryan Day is in the process of hiring Chip Kelly, who has already resigned from UCLA and is expected to go become the Ohio State offensive coordinator. Day and Chip Kelly go way back, all the way back to New Hampshire. They’ve known each other since before Day was in college, Day played for Chip Kelly when Chip was the offensive coordinator for Sean McDonnell at UNH. Ryan Day was a star quarterback there. Day obviously was an assistant coach for Chip Kelly at two NFL stops, at the Eagles and the 49ers. They have deep, deep ties.”