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Buckeyes promote James Laurinaitis to full-time coaching role

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•02/15/24•

SpencerHolbrook

James Laurinaitis by Matt Parker -- Lettermen Row --
(Matt Parker/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has finalized its roster of assistant coaches: former Buckeyes linebacker and NFL star James Laurinaitis has been promoted from his post as a graduate assistant to linebackers coach, Lettermen Row has learned.

All 10 spots on the assistant coaching staff are now filled. Ohio State fired special teams coordinator Parker Fleming and declined to retain safeties coach Perry Eliano and quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis.

The Buckeyes have filled those roles with new safeties coach Matt Guerrieri, new quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and, now, Laurinaitis.

Laurinaitis is one of the most decorated Ohio State players of all time. He was a three-time consensus All-American (2006-2008), the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year twice and three-time first-team all-Big Ten. He won the Bronco Nagurski Trophy in 2006, the Butkus Award in 2007 and the Lott Trophy in 2008. He played in two national title games and two Fiesta Bowls. He was a second-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Laurinaitis played eight seasons in the NFL, appearing for the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints. He finished his pro career with 869 career tackles, 16.5 sacks, 10 interceptions, 35 passes deflected and two forced fumbles.

After spending time on local sports radio in Columbus and doing color-commentary for the Big Ten Network, he decided to get into coaching a couple of years ago, joining the Notre Dame staff for the 2022 season under head coach Marcus Freeman.

Then the call from Ohio State came. He couldn’t pass that up. And just one year after becoming a graduate assistant with the Buckeyes, he’s now becoming the linebackers coach. In just two years in coaching at the college level, Laurinaitis has learned what it’s like in the profession.

“Our job is to win football games, win ‘em all,” Laurinaitis told media last February when he was hired at Ohio State. “And sometimes it’s win ‘em impressively. But at the end of the day it’s also will some of these young linebackers, or even the older guys – will they leave here with someone in their life where they can say, ‘You know what? Not only did coach Laurinaitis teach me ball, but he taught me what it’s like to be a good father and a good husband’ … and help them realize the power of Ohio State.

“You can set yourself up for the next 40 years after ball. Hopefully every guy that comes through plays for 10 years in the league. But I can share with them I played eight years in the league, I retired at 30, lot of life left.“

In promoting a graduate assistant, Ohio State has filled its final staff opening.

Legendary Buckeyes linebacker James Laurinaitis is officially on the staff as one of the 10 assistant coaches.

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