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Ryan Day on new DC Matt Patricia: "Matt will integrate into our program's culture and values"

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•02/20/25•

SpencerHolbrook

Matt Patricia
Matt Patricia (© Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State made all of its assistant coaching hires official Thursday through an athletic department release; Tyler Bowen was announced as the new offensive line coach and Matt Patricia is the new defensive coordinator, while the program also promoted five of its staff members to new positions.

In that release, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day put statements out about some of his new hires and promotions. Among them was a statement about Patricia, a longtime NFL defensive coordinator and former head coach of the Detroit Lions.

“I have been aware of and followed Matt’s successful NFL career for the past 15 years, or when he first started calling plays for those outstanding New England teams,” Day said regarding his hire of Patricia. I have also gotten to know him and, aside from his creative and outstanding abilities as a defensive coach, I think Matt is going to integrate into our program’s culture and values, which are the essence of who we are, very well. I’d like to welcome him and his wife, Raina, and their children to Columbus and Ohio State University.” 

Some might not think twice about that statement. Patricia has three Super Bowl rings from his time with the Patriots, two of which came when he was a defensive coordinator for New England. Patricia has been coaching football since the early aughts, and he has a resume that makes sense for the next defensive coordinator at Ohio State to have.

But the most important part of that statement is here: “I think Matt is going to integrate into our program’s culture and values, which are the essence of who we are, very well.”

Plenty have questioned Day’s hiring of Patricia because of Patricia’s time with the Detroit Lions, where he went 13-29-1 as the head coach in Detroit. Reports of player treatment and a rotten culture were rampant, and Patricia was fired after just three seasons with the Lions. It wasn’t good.

That Day made the comment in his opening remark means he has made it clear: Matt Patricia won’t be installing any new defensive cultures or values into the Ohio State program.

Ohio State has a well-established culture. Day continued what Urban Meyer built with the Buckeyes after Meyer added onto the culture that Jim Tressel built at the beginning of the century.

Day has built his culture on “Fight” and “Tough Love” mantras, and it has worked; Ohio State is the reigning national champions.

Patricia is now taking over a defense that Jim Knowles left as the top defense in college football last season. He’s not going to need to install a culture or any values. Those are already in place. All Patricia needs to do is come in and coach football.

Day made that clear Thursday in his first statement about hiring Matt Patricia.

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