The Ohio State Buckeyes are set to hire former NFL defensive coordinator Matt Patricia for the same position. Following their National Championship win this year, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes experienced significant offseason attrition, losing both coordinators—Chip Kelly to the Las Vegas Raiders and Jim Knowles to Big Ten rival Penn State. After promoting Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator, Day opted for Patricia as his new defensive coordinator.
“Ohio State is finalizing a deal to hire Matt Patricia as the school’s new defensive coordinator,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Wednesday. The decision to hire Patricia raises eyebrows; while he boasts Super Bowl championships and a stint as an NFL head coach, most observers agree he may not receive much credit for those accomplishments anytime soon. His tenure as head coach of the Detroit Lions was notoriously poor, and though he joined the Philadelphia Eagles late last year, his impact was minimal as well.
As a result, Michigan fans likely already held a strong dislike for Patricia, and the Buckeyes have only provided them with further justification. The Ohio State fanbase has expressed resentment towards this hire, arguing there is little to support the decision. It is indeed a puzzling move for a program that is still making positive strides; however, after facing several challenges in recent years, Ohio State may be opening itself up to another potential misstep.
