When you win a championship like the Ohio State Buckeyes did, coaches tend to get promoted to bigger and better roles. We’ve already seen those changes take place at Ohio State, with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly fleeing to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Buckeyes also lost defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who accepted the same role with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Now, the Buckeyes have a new defensive coordinator and he comes with a lot of NFL experience.
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Ohio State Buckeyes hire Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator
According to ESPN’s college football insider Pete Thamel, the Ohio State Buckeyes are hiring Matt Patricia as their new defensive coordinator.
Patricia’s last coaching job came as a senior defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Before that, he spent two seasons back with the New England Patriots in various roles, returning to the franchise where he won three Super Bowls as a key member of the staff.
He’s also been an NFL head coach, which took place from 2018 to 2020 with the Detroit Lions, leading them to a 13-29-1 record. While he couldn’t get the results he was looking for as a head coach, Patricia spent seven seasons as the Patriots’ defensive coordinator so he should fit right in coordinating the Buckeyes’ defense next.
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