Corey Dennis changes course, joining staff at Ole Miss after leaving Buckeyes for Utah
COLUMBUS — Ryan Day made the decision to replace Corey Dennis at his spot as the Ohio State quarterbacks coach earlier this offseason. Dennis was expected to ‘transition into a still-to-be-determined role with the program,’ according to a university release when the news was announced.
Dennis took different route, however. He left the Buckeyes program to take a job as an analyst at Utah a few weeks ago. Now he’s already landed a different gig. He has joined Lane Kiffin’s staff at Ole Miss, according to OM Spirit’s Zach Berry.
Dennis had been with the Ohio State program since 2015, when he was an intern under then-head coach Urban Meyer, Dennis’ father-in-law. Dennis was a graduate assistant for the Buckeyes in 2016 and 2017 before being elevated to a quality control role in 2018 and 2019. He became the Buckeyes quarterbacks coach in 2020, the position he was in for the last four seasons prior to his demotion.
Day decided to move Dennis into a new role to give the Buckeyes an opening on the offensive side of the coaching staff. It was filled by quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien last month before he took the head coaching job at Boston College. O’Brien was ultimately replaced by incoming Buckeyes incoming OC Chip Kelly.
Kelly is in that quarterbacks coaching office in place of Dennis, who is heading to the new opportunity with the Rebels as they gear up for a potentially special season.
Dennis made $412,000 as the quarterbacks coach at Ohio State last season. His contract has expired, meaning the Buckeyes simply didn’t renew his contract as quarterbacks coach, giving them an opening on the staff.
Top 10
- 1New
Transfer Portal window
Coaches propose big change
- 2Hot
Sanders addresses rumors
Prime talks Cowboys job
- 3
Fake injuries
New rule under discussion
- 4Trending
Kiffin jabs Saban
Sydney Thomas pic sparks shot
- 5
'Bullshit'
Mario Cristobal defends Cam Ward
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Dennis helped develop Justin Fields to become a Heisman Trophy candidate. He recruited and helped in the development of C.J. Stroud, a Heisman candidate when he was at Ohio State. And he recruited current Buckeyes quarterbacks Kyle McCord, Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and future Buckeyes signal-caller Air Noland.
But the Buckeyes have come up short in each of the last three games against rival Michigan and have missed the College Football Playoff in two of the last three years. And there was a drop-off in quarterback play this season from Kyle McCord after the Buckeyes had C.J. Stroud for two seasons.
Day and Ohio State believed it was time for fresh ideas and a new face in the offensive meeting room.
Corey Dennis had already moved on to his next coaching opportunity. He’s heading to Ole Miss after a brief stint at Utah.
