Matt Guerrieri returns to Ohio State as Buckeyes safeties coach

After spending one season as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Indiana, former Buckeyes analyst Matt Guerrieri is returning to Columbus, with head coach Ryan Day announcing Wednesday that Guerrieri will be Ohio State’s new safeties coach.

The Willoughby, Ohio native returns to his home state following his one year in Indiana after spending the 2022 season as Ohio State’s senior advisor and senior analyst.

Matt Guerrieri replaces former Ohio State safeties coach Perry Eliano, who served in the role for two seasons before being fired this offseason along with special teams coordinator Parker Fleming.

Guerrieri worked under former Indiana head coach Tom Allen during his one season in Bloomington, who is now the defensive coordinator for conference foe Penn State. But prior to his one-year stints with Indiana and Ohio State, Guerrieri spent an extended amount of time under current Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator Jim Knowles at Duke.

Knowles spent eight seasons as the Blue Devils defensive coordinator prior to his time with Ohio State, with Guerrieri also being on Duke’s staff as well. Guerrieri worked his way up from graduate assistant to safeties coach until Knowles departed for Oklahoma State in 2018, which resulted in co-defensive coordinator being added to his title for his final four years with the Blue Devils.

The two reunited in 2022 and will do so again heading into the 2024 season, as Guerrieri will look to contribute in upholding the new defensive standard that’s been set in Columbus, with the Buckeyes’ defense holding opponents to just 11 points per game last season in one of their strongest performances to date.

Along with coaching safeties for eight years at the collegiate level, Guerrieri played safety as well at Davison College where he was a three-year letterman and a team captain in his senior season. And during his time with the Buckeyes, he was clearly able to connect with his players on a personal level and establish a strong rapport.

“I love Coach G, man,” Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom said prior to Ohio State’s game against Indiana in September. “When he was here, that was my guy, one of the smartest guys I know. And I think he brings a lot of good things. I mean, you see how successful he was at Duke. You saw how successful he was here. And to go there, I’m honestly really happy for him, but when we get on that field, it’s us against him.”