Ohio State hires Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio State will have a new play-caller in 2024.
Ohio State has confirmed the hiring of 54-year-old Bill O’Brien, a former coach of the Houston Texans and Penn State, as their offensive coordinator.
Hiring O’Brien, who spent last season running the New England Patriots' offense before the departure of coach Bill Belichick and the two years before that at Alabama under Nick Saban, signals the end of Buckeyes coach Ryan Day as the offensive play-caller.
In addition, Brian Hartline, last season's offensive coordinator, will be co-offensive coordinator as well as the wide receivers coach. Quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis will remain on staff, but will transition into a role to-be-determined.
O'Brien went 52-48 over six-plus seasons as coach of the Texans, from 2014-2020. His teams won four division titles and compiled a 2-4 postseason record. The Nittany Lions went 15-9 over two seasons under O'Brien's direction in 2012 and 2013.
Ohio State has won 22 games the past two seasons, but Day has come under fire for losing in bowl games in consecutive years and for not beating Michigan since 2019. And the move comes one day after Day learned who his new boss will be. Ross Bjork of Texas A&M has been selected to replace Gene Smith, who's retiring effective July 1.