Urban Meyer reflects on why he chose Ryan Day as his successor

Urban Meyer knew from the moment Ryan Day walked onto Ohio State’s campus that the Buckeyes had their next head coach when he stepped down.

Meyer handed the keys to the car to Day in 2019 full time and off he ran. Day joined Ohio State in 2017 as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before rising up the ranks.

It culminated in Day winning Ohio State’s first national title since Meyer did so during the 2014 season and the latter reflected on his decision.

“When I knew that I was 55 years old is when I wanted to end it and I wanted to have a successor in place, you know. And Bob Stoops is a dear friend. We got to get him on the podcast, but I called coach and our AD called their ad, and I said I found the guy. His name’s Ryan Day,” Meyer said on The Triple Option. “I hired him. He was with Chip Kelly at the Niners. They all got let go there, and I hired him as our quarterback coach. And he was my GA in Florida, and I think (2005).

“We stayed in touch and the minute he steps on campus. I’m like, we got something here. He’s young. Ohio State’s a monster, but he’s a brilliant coach X and O wise, a leader. And I went to the President, I went to Gene I said ‘we got the next head coach.’”

Urban Meyer knew Ryan Day was future Ohio State HC

Day is now 70-10 as a head coach, which includes his three-game stint in 2018 while Meyer was on administrative leave. He’s been to the College Football Playoff four times and won four CFP games in a row this year to win the first 12-team playoff and become national champions.

“When I left Florida, it was just sudden, so I didn’t have the chance to make sure everything was in place … And Bob Stoops is incredible. He really helped us to set the table for how you make this transition from one coach, especially a coach that’s never been a head coach,” Meyer said of transitioning to Day. “Marcus Freeman is in a little different scenario with Brian Kelly, but Marcus Freeman didn’t get hired at Notre Dame and had to change the whole training staff, change the whole academic program, change the whole weight staff … 

“Do you realize if you do that, you’re probably a year behind, because it’s a mess … Ryan Day didn’t have to do any of that you know what (he) was able to do? Go recruit and go coach … You know what the pattern used to be? Go to Bowling Green, and go figure it out for a while.”

Day certainly took advantage of what was in place, recruited well, attacked the transfer portal and developed quarterbacks. Sure enough, they climbed the mountain.

Now, what Day do for an encore? And how long will he keep at it before Ohio State has to move on to Day’s successor?