Recapping Buckeyes coaching departures, openings so far this offseason

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has one of the best coaching staffs in America every year.

And Buckeyes assistants are always sought after by other programs around the country, leading to coaching turnover every offseason.

Lettermen Row is combing through every coaching move the Buckeyes have made, both into the program and out of the program, since the offseason arrived. Let’s break down all of them as spring practice is set to begin in a month.

Buckeyes coaching departures

Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly: Kelly accepted the offensive coordinator job with the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders over the weekend. The former Oregon and UCLA head coach is heading back to the NFL, where he spent four seasons as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016). Kelly has never been an assistant coach in the NFL.

Kelly spent one season as the offensive play-caller for the Buckeyes after leaving his head coaching post at UCLA for the Ohio State coordinator job. It was the first time Day has given up play-calling duties in his career, and it resulted in a national title. Kelly also served as the program’s quarterbacks coach alongside Day and analyst Billy Fessler.

Quarterbacks coaching assistant Riley Larkin: After two seasons at Ohio State as a quarterbacks assistant, Larkin will join Mike Vrabel’s staff with the New England Patriots.

Offensive line coach Justin Frye: After being near the hot seat exiting the regular season due to an underwhelming offensive line room and some lackluster results on the recruiting trail, Frye’s unit put it all together for a huge performance against Tennessee, then replicated it in the Rose Bowl win over Oregon, the Cotton Bowl win over Texas and the national title win over Notre Dame. The former Indiana offensive lineman was hired by Ohio State as the offensive line coach and associate head coach in 2022, replacing the outgoing Greg Studrawa. Frye was previously the offensive line coach for current Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly when Kelly was the head coach in Westwood. He’s heading to the Arizona Cardinals to be an offensive line coach in the NFL.

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles: Knowles had a three-year run with Ohio State that will go down as one of the best three-year defensive turnarounds in college football history. The Buckeyes finished with a truly horrendous No. 97 pass defense in the country during the 2021 season, and the run defense was severely lagging compared to program standards. Then Knowles was hired as the highest-paid assistant in the history of the Buckeyes program, and every year his defenses steadily improved — especially in 2023 and 2024, when the Buckeyes ultimately won the national title after three years of building the defense under Knowles. He left for a new three-year, record-breaking contract to be the defensive coordinator at Penn State and will return to the Horseshoe on Nov. 1 for a massive game against the Buckeyes.

Offensive line assistant Mike Sollenne: The Buckeyes assistant offensive line coach spent three years at Ohio State before accepting a job as the offensive line coach for Dan Mullen’s new staff at UNLV. He took the job before the College Football Playoff but stuck with the Buckeyes through the national title before heading to Las Vegas.

Defensive line graduate assistant LaAllan Clark: After two seasons at Ohio State as a defensive line graduate assistant, Clark will join Steve Sarkisian’s staff as the new outside linebackers coach at Texas. It’ll be the first Power Four on-field coaching role of his career. He’ll face the Buckeyes on Aug. 30.

Director of Recruiting and Events Morgan Phillips: Ohio State Director of Recruiting Morgan Phillips, who joined the program in August from LSU, is heading back to the bayou; she accepted a position on the LSU staff after just six months at Ohio State according to On3 LSU reporter Shea Dixon, who said Phillips will be the new LSU Director of Recruiting Events. Phillips began working with the football program in August as the Director of Recruiting. She worked in an on-campus role.

An Alabama graduate, Phillips joined the LSU football staff in August 2023 and was the Tigers’ Recruiting Operations Coordinator. During her time at Alabama, Phillips worked as a coordinator in the Head Coach’s Office, working directly with Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Now she’s heading back to LSU.

Staff positions yet to be filled

Offensive coordinator: Ohio State is taking its time making these hires. It has internal options such as Brian Hartline, the current wide receivers coach, but it can also look at external hires to make the best decision for the future of the offense.

Quarterbacks coach: This is an underrated opening. With Kelly’s departure, Ohio State lost its offensive coordinator AND its quarterbacks coach. No matter how Day chooses to fill the offensive coordinator role, he’ll need to find a quarterbacks coach.

Offensive line coach: With Justin Frye out the door to the NFL, Day has a massive hole to fill in his staff. The offensive line coach will be tasked with taking over for a line that should be among the best in college football next season — and elevating the ceiling for Ohio State when it comes to recruiting the future of the offensive line, starting with an ultra-talented 2026 OL class.

Offensive line assistant: Sollenne is gone, so the Buckeyes will need an offensive line coaching assistant to go along with the next offensive line coach.

Defensive coordinator: Ohio State has so many options for defensive coordinator. The Buckeyes could promote cornerbacks coach Tim Walton or safeties coach — or both — to the defensive coordinator position. They could also find a new defensive coordinator. It’s a good problem for Day to have, and he’s taking his time in the process to make sure he gets it right.

Defensive line assistant: With Clark out the door, Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson will need to find a new graduate assistant to work with his group.

Director of Recruiting and Events: This is an underrated staff position that will be critical. Phillips was only in her role for six months following the departure of Erin Dunston to Michigan. Ohio State’s recruiting office will need to make a strong hire here.