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Report: Ohio State promoting Keenan Bailey to co-offensive coordinator

2iQTwToy.jpg-mediumby:Mick Walker•about 17 hours•

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Keenan Bailey and Max Klare by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --
Keenan Bailey and Max Klare (Mick Walker/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS – The reshuffling of the Buckeyes offensive coaching staff following the National Championship is continuing. Ohio State is reportedly promoting tight ends coach Keenan Bailey to co-offensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. He will continue to work with the Buckeyes tight ends.

Ohio State has had incredible continuity at tight end since Bailey took over the room. Cade Stover was a two-year starter until he went to the NFL. Gee Scott Jr. just wrapped up his run as a starting tight end after two years — one alongside Stover and one as the top starter.

It will continue in some ways following the Buckeyes’ national championship, as senior Ohio transfer Will Kacmarek returns after his first season at Ohio State. He’ll be a key piece, but so will a big-time transfer addition and a few rising potential stars.

The Buckeyes added former Purdue tight end Max Klare, the No. 1 tight end in the transfer portal, this offseason. He played in all 12 of Purdue’s games this season — including a game in the Horseshoe against Ohio State in early November. He finished the year with team-highs of 51 receptions, 685 receiving yards and four touchdowns. In the 2023 campaign, Klare appeared in five games and made four starts before suffering a season-ending injury. In his limited time on the field, Klare left an impression, racking up 22 receptions for 196 yards. The 6-foot-4 standout only played in one game in his true freshman season in 2022 before opting to redshirt.

Beyond Kacmarek and Klare, Jelani Thurman will continue to progress as a pass-catcher in his third season. Bennett Christian has also done more than enough to showcase that he can be a second blocking tight end – and thrive in the role. That’s what he did this year for a national title-winning offense. Both will need to be contributors for Ohio State this season.

Ohio State also signed a pair of four-star tight ends in the 2025 class: Brody Lennon and Nate Roberts. Roberts has already enrolled at Ohio State and will participate in spring practices while Lennon will join the Buckeyes in the summer.

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 month 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
Co-offensive coordinator/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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