Ohio State expected to hire Virginia Tech offensive coordinator

Multiple sources tell On3 that Ohio State is expected to hire Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen as its next offensive line coach and run game coordinator. The former Jacksonville Jaguars assistant has been with the Hokies since 2022 and has experience coaching the offensive line.

With Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly leaving for the same role with the Las Vegas Raiders and Justin Frye taking the offensive line job with the Arizona Cardinals, head coach Ryan Day had multiple holes to fill on his offensive staff. Bowen checks off both, bringing in experience as a play caller and coaching the offensive line.

Before stints with the Hokies and Jaguars, Bowen was a Penn State assistant on the same staff as Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry. Bowen was the Nittany Lions’ co-offensive coordinator during the 2020 season and tight ends coach in 2018 and 2019. He developed 2021 NFL second-round pick Pat Freiermuth, who posted eight touchdowns in 2020, the second-most of any tight end in the FBS that year. He was the primary recruiter for offensive tackle Olu Fashanu and tight end Tyler Warren during his time at Penn State.

Bowen worked for Joe Moorhead at Fordham in 2015 before reuniting with him at Penn State in 2018. He previously was the offensive line coach at Maryland in 2017. The Virginia Tech offensive coordinator has developed quarterback Kyron Drones in the last two seasons for the Hokies. The former Baylor transfer has thrown for 3,647 yards and rushed for 1,154 yards with 38 total touchdowns.

A year ago, Day brought in Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator so the Ohio State head coach could take a CEO role. When O’Brien left and took the Boston College job, Day called his former coach to leave UCLA and join the Buckeyes. Taking the CEO role paid off this season, as Ohio State won its first national championship in a decade.

Day is not surprised his staff has seen attrition since winning the national title.

“This was going to be part of the deal,” the Ohio State head coach told FOX’s Joel Klatt. “We knew that. I knew that right after the (championship) game. And so you have plans in place. But we’re going to make sure we take our time and find the right guys because it’s Ohio State, so you have the opportunity to get the best.”