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Ohio State expected to promote Billy Fessler to quarterbacks coaching role

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•about 10 hours•

SpencerHolbrook

Billy Fessler by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --
Billy Fessler (Mick Walker/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is staying in-house to finalize a major piece of its offensive coaching staff. The Buckeyes are reportedly promoting quarterbacks coaching analyst Billy Fessler to the full-time role of quarterbacks coach, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

Fessler takes over the quarterback room for Chip Kelly, who left his post as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator to become the new offensive coordinator for Pete Carrol and the Las Vegas Raiders.

Fessler will be in charge of a quarterbacks room that features projected starter Julian Sayin, a former five-star who is in his second year, former four-star recruit Lincoln Kienholz and five-star freshman Tavien St. Clair.

While still head coach at UCLA, the now-former Ohio State offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and play-caller the Kelly brought Fessler aboard as the Bruins’ quarterbacks coach. Fessler, a reserve quarterback at Penn State from 2014-17, joined Kelly’s UCLA staff in January.

But after Kelly left for the Ohio State offensive coordinator job last February — and the Bruins promoted running backs coach DeShaun Foster to head coach — Fessler’s role changed. Fessler had previously coached at Akron before joining the UCLA staff last January — and then leaving a month later for the Buckeyes. He joined the Zips as quarterbacks coach in 2022 and then earned a promotion to offensive coordinator ahead of the 2023 campaign.

Fessler returned to the Buckeyes program for the 2024 season in that analyst role; he previously worked as a Buckeyes graduate assistant during the 2020-21 seasons under Ryan Day. Before that, he served as a GA at Mississippi State in 2019 and at Division II Slippery Rock in 2018.

Ohio State sent Fessler out onto the trail as a recruiter when Jim Knowles left the program to become the next defensive coordinator at Penn State; Fessler filled in as the 10th assistant for recruiting purposes.

Now he’ll be on the recruiting trail in a full-time capacity and in meeting rooms as a leader of a group; Ohio State has elevated Fessler to the role of quarterbacks coach.

Buckeyes still have position to fill

Ohio State still has one assistant coaching jobs to fill: defensive coordinator.

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left the program last week for the DC job at Penn State. His position at Ohio State is still vacant.

Ohio State coaching staff

Head coach — Ryan Day
Offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach — Brian Hartline
Quarterbacks coach — Billy Fessler
Running backs coach — Carlos Locklyn
Tight ends coach — Keenan Bailey
Offensive line coach — Tyler Bowen

Defensive coordinator — OPEN
Defensive line coach — Larry Johnson
Linebackers coach — James Laurinaitis
Cornerbacks coach — Tim Walton
Safeties coach — Matt Guerrieri

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