Ryan Day recalls what got him into coaching

Ryan Day saw his football playing days end at New Hampshire after four years with the program. He set records while playing quarterback under head coach Chip Kelly but was not good enough to take a step to the next level. Day needed a new career and maybe unsurprisingly, he got into coaching.

Kelly hired him to be New Hampshire’s tight ends coach, going straight into a position coach role. Seemingly, there was never a thought of stepping away from football. Day explained the decision recently, saying being competitive was one of the main drives.

“It’s the competitiveness,” Day said. “I think I would have a hard time not having that competitive fire and just adrenaline week in and week out. I love that part of it, it’s how I’ve always been.”

Day displays his competitiveness on nearly a daily basis. Ohio State will battle with anybody in college football and not just on the field. Recruiting is an area the Buckeyes are one of the best, consistently finishing in the top three of the On3 Industry Rankings. Even in practice, when going up against their own guys, Day wants to make sure there is a competitive spirit around the program.

The second reason for getting into coaching was because of the relationships Day can build. Between the players and his colleagues, there is something about being surrounded by people who also have a passion for football that brings fire to Day.

“I’ve always been around people,” Day said. “I like being around the players, I like being around the coaches. We wake up in the morning around people that you like, that want to be great. The challenge of that is why I got into coaching.”

Day will certainly have the opportunity to be great this upcoming season. This is one of Ohio State’s best rosters of recent times, just ask Urban Meyer. The Buckeyes have a chance to be the preseason No. 1 and are a serious favorite to win the national title.

Since joining the staff in 2017, the championship has been the one thing to avoid Day. He has beaten Michigan on multiple occasions, won the Big Ten, and even made the College Football Playoff. Ohio State even made the national championship game in 2020 but ultimately lost to Alabama.

Day got into coaching for the people and the competitiveness and the latter is striving him toward accomplishing a goal you know he has in Columbus.