New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien watches warmups for the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 7 in Pittsburgh. Ohio State has hired O’Brien as its offensive coordinator.
Matt Freed | AP File
Ohio State has hired former Houston Texans and Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the program confirmed in a statement on Friday.
“He is an excellent and experienced offensive coach who has run NFL and Power 5 programs and developed some truly elite players throughout his career,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said in a statement. “He’ll be an excellent teacher and recruiter for us, and he absolutely strengthens our staff.”
ESPN first reported Ohio State was hiring O’Brien.
Day has been Ohio State’s primary play-caller since being promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach in 2019 to replace Urban Meyer.
Bringing in an experienced play-caller at both the college and NFL level could allow Day to hand off those responsibilities.
Brian Hartline was offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes last year, and will remain on staff as wide receivers coach.
Quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis, Meyer’s son-in-law, “will transition into a still-to-be-determined role with the program,” the statement said.
The Buckeyes (11-2) ranked 25th in the country in yards per play (6.38) last season, their worst showing since 2016.
Ohio State lost to Michigan for the third straight year and then dropped its bowl game against Missouri, playing with a third-string quarterback after starter Kyle McCord transferred and backup Devin Brown was injured.
O’Brien, 54, spent seven seasons as coach of the Texans, going 52-48 from 2014 to 2020 — and working with quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Before that he coached at Penn State for two seasons, taking over for Joe Paterno and going 15-9 with a program that was dealing with severe NCAA sanctions after the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
O’Brien returned to college after being fired by the Texans, joining Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama as offensive coordinator for two years.
He coached Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young in 2021.
O’Brien returned to the NFL and the New England Patriots this season as offensive coordinator.
His first stint working for Patriots coach Bill Belichick was from 2007-11.
He was quarterbacks coach for Tom Brady from 2009-11.
At Ohio State, O’Brien should have plenty to work with.
The Buckeyes brought in Kansas State quarterback Will Howard and Mississippi running back Quinshon Judkins as transfers earlier this month — and bring back wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and running back TreVeyon Henderson, who both decided to return to school instead of entering the NFL Draft.
