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LGHL Grading Ryan Day’s off-season coaching staff moves
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Grading Ryan Day’s off-season coaching staff moves
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes will look to strengthen their weaknesses in 2024.
It’s been a busy off-season for Ohio State’s head football coach. After a bad ending prevented his team from reaching its goals again in 2023, Ryan Day took a long look at his staff to see where improvements could be made.
In this piece, I’ll take a look back at what’s happened over the winter and evaluate the changes Day has made to his staff.
Day opted not to retain his special teams coordinator — and with good reason. There was little about the unit that was truly special. Aside from a decent year by placekicker Jayden Fielding, who made 16 of his 20 attempted field goals and 49 out of 50 extra points, the special teams for Ohio State did not meet expectations, despite having a dedicated coaching position specifically tasked with overseeing those functions.
The Buckeyes ranked 32nd nationally in average punt yards, with 43.69. Additionally, Ohio State was 67th nationally in kickoff return average (19.92 yards) and 114th in punt return average (4.41 yards) and failed to score on either type of play in 2023. Flipping to the other side, the Buckeyes were 77th in opponents’ punting average (42.23), 36th in opponent kickoff return average (17.93 yards), and 115th in opponent punt return average (12.36 yards).
Fleming’s unit lagged behind many programs with fewer heralded players and no coaching position dedicated solely to special teams. The dude had to go.
Grade: A-, even if the replacement is by committee. (This should have been an A+ move, but the fact that Day let Fleming stay on staff as long as he did bumps it down a bit for me.)
The bottom line is that Ohio State’s “real” quarterbacks coach is Day himself. Dennis was exposed in 2023 when there was little to no notable improvement in Kyle McCord’s play over the course of the season. It’s easy to be spoiled by the play of freaks like C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields, and Dwayne Haskins. It’s only when faced with starting a mortal quarterback that a QB coach’s true worth can be gleaned.
Urban Meyer’s son-in-law was a holdover from the previous regime and it was past time for him to go. He’s now at Utah, McCord is now at Syracuse, and Ohio State gets a fresh start in 2024.
That fresh start will come under new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly, who left his head coaching job within the Big Ten at UCLA to take the OSU job. I’m honestly happier having Kelly in Columbus than the guy who was originally offered the job, Bill O’Brien. That hiring was fine, but I prefer Kelly’s tactics.
Grade: A-, with a chance to become an A+ if Day actually lets Kelly call the plays.
Ohio State’s tight ends haven’t been world beaters, but they’ve generally gotten as much of the job done as they’ve been asked to do. They could be better blockers, but Cade Stover and Gee Scott, Jr. were both converted to the position. Bailey may have more to work within 2024 with Jelani Thurman starting to come on and a good blocking tight end arriving through the transfer portal in Will Kaczmarek.
Grade: C+
Knowles’ defense has been on the rise since his arrival. There have been a couple of problematic position groups but those seem to be improving too, and the safety group should be much stronger in 2024. Overall, he’s been doing what he was brought to Columbus to do.
By giving him two more years on his contract, Day has shown he’s happy with the Buckeyes’ progress on the defensive side of the ball. The team could use a few more takeaways, but other than that, there wasn’t a whole lot to complain about in 2023 except in the second half of the Michigan game.
Grade: B+
Ohio State’s safeties improved from 2022 to 2023, but there were still some major meltdowns along the way. Not all of that is on Eliano, whose group sustained some key injuries during the season — most notably, Lathan Ransom.
Still, tight ends did pretty much whatever they wanted at times during the 2023 campaign.
Enter Guerrieri, a former OSU analyst who spent 2023 as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Indiana. It’s hard to get a read on how good of a job Guerrieri did, as Indiana is...well, Indiana. However, Louis Moore and Josh Sanguinetti — both seniors — combined for five interceptions, and Moore finished second on the Hoosiers in tackles, with 82.
Perhaps there were better available candidates, but Day did OK for himself with Guerrieri and we’ll see how this pans out for the Buckeyes in 2024 when the new assistant has a solid group of returners and incoming transfer Caleb Downs from Alabama.
Grade: B
The OSU secondary / cornerbacks coach was handed the addition of “assistant head coach” to his title, and for good reason. Walton is quickly becoming the Brian Hartline of the defensive side of the ball. Recruiting has improved by leaps and bounds and Walton’s position group was solid in 2023, returning Denzel Burke to his previous level of excellence. This move should help keep a coach around who could be in high demand if he can continue to operate at this kind of level.
Grade: A+
For the last few years, Ohio State’s defensive line has not been what it once was. The tackles did a better job in 2023 than in 2022. The defensive ends haven’t exactly been lights out, but Jack Sawyer’s emergence at the end of the season was encouraging. Johnson has struggled to find the right balance between substituting too much and not enough over the last couple of seasons. And production on the edge — including setting said edge — must improve for Ohio State’s defense to return to elite status.
What Ohio State needs is a transition plan. Negative recruiting based on Johnson’s age isn’t going to stop with his two-year extension. Other coaches can easily point out that Johnson may not be around for a prized recruit’s full career. What Day should do is bring in Johnson’s eventual replacement as a high-priced analyst and the Buckeyes can tell recruits that Johnson is going to coach them, but if he should leave during that recruit’s collegiate career, his replacement is known, and in the meantime he’ll be passing his knowledge on to some younger, ball-of-energy guy that will take over.
Johnson has earned the right to go out on his own terms, but let’s get more sacks out of the defensive ends, shall we?
Grade: C
Adding Little Animal to the OSU coaching staff, after he served as an analyst in 2023, is something that most Ohio State fans wanted. It’s a feel-good story. We think he’ll be great as the team’s linebackers coach and that he’ll be an excellent recruiter.
However, we don’t have any data to back anything up at this point. It seems like a great hire, but it could go in many different directions. We’d all certainly like to see this move succeed, but at the moment it’s just someone we like, and who we think can do the job, getting added to the staff.
This is a difficult one to rate at this point, as it could easily be higher or lower. I’ll split the difference.
Grade: B
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes will look to strengthen their weaknesses in 2024.
It’s been a busy off-season for Ohio State’s head football coach. After a bad ending prevented his team from reaching its goals again in 2023, Ryan Day took a long look at his staff to see where improvements could be made.
In this piece, I’ll take a look back at what’s happened over the winter and evaluate the changes Day has made to his staff.
Special Teams
Parker Fleming’s Dismissal
Day opted not to retain his special teams coordinator — and with good reason. There was little about the unit that was truly special. Aside from a decent year by placekicker Jayden Fielding, who made 16 of his 20 attempted field goals and 49 out of 50 extra points, the special teams for Ohio State did not meet expectations, despite having a dedicated coaching position specifically tasked with overseeing those functions.
The Buckeyes ranked 32nd nationally in average punt yards, with 43.69. Additionally, Ohio State was 67th nationally in kickoff return average (19.92 yards) and 114th in punt return average (4.41 yards) and failed to score on either type of play in 2023. Flipping to the other side, the Buckeyes were 77th in opponents’ punting average (42.23), 36th in opponent kickoff return average (17.93 yards), and 115th in opponent punt return average (12.36 yards).
Fleming’s unit lagged behind many programs with fewer heralded players and no coaching position dedicated solely to special teams. The dude had to go.
Grade: A-, even if the replacement is by committee. (This should have been an A+ move, but the fact that Day let Fleming stay on staff as long as he did bumps it down a bit for me.)
Offense
Replacing Corey Dennis with Chip Kelly
The bottom line is that Ohio State’s “real” quarterbacks coach is Day himself. Dennis was exposed in 2023 when there was little to no notable improvement in Kyle McCord’s play over the course of the season. It’s easy to be spoiled by the play of freaks like C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields, and Dwayne Haskins. It’s only when faced with starting a mortal quarterback that a QB coach’s true worth can be gleaned.
Urban Meyer’s son-in-law was a holdover from the previous regime and it was past time for him to go. He’s now at Utah, McCord is now at Syracuse, and Ohio State gets a fresh start in 2024.
That fresh start will come under new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly, who left his head coaching job within the Big Ten at UCLA to take the OSU job. I’m honestly happier having Kelly in Columbus than the guy who was originally offered the job, Bill O’Brien. That hiring was fine, but I prefer Kelly’s tactics.
Grade: A-, with a chance to become an A+ if Day actually lets Kelly call the plays.
Keenan Bailey’s Extension through 2025
Ohio State’s tight ends haven’t been world beaters, but they’ve generally gotten as much of the job done as they’ve been asked to do. They could be better blockers, but Cade Stover and Gee Scott, Jr. were both converted to the position. Bailey may have more to work within 2024 with Jelani Thurman starting to come on and a good blocking tight end arriving through the transfer portal in Will Kaczmarek.
Grade: C+
Defense
Jim Knowles’ Extension through 2026
Knowles’ defense has been on the rise since his arrival. There have been a couple of problematic position groups but those seem to be improving too, and the safety group should be much stronger in 2024. Overall, he’s been doing what he was brought to Columbus to do.
By giving him two more years on his contract, Day has shown he’s happy with the Buckeyes’ progress on the defensive side of the ball. The team could use a few more takeaways, but other than that, there wasn’t a whole lot to complain about in 2023 except in the second half of the Michigan game.
Grade: B+
Replacing Perry Eliano with Matt Guerrieri
Ohio State’s safeties improved from 2022 to 2023, but there were still some major meltdowns along the way. Not all of that is on Eliano, whose group sustained some key injuries during the season — most notably, Lathan Ransom.
Still, tight ends did pretty much whatever they wanted at times during the 2023 campaign.
Enter Guerrieri, a former OSU analyst who spent 2023 as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Indiana. It’s hard to get a read on how good of a job Guerrieri did, as Indiana is...well, Indiana. However, Louis Moore and Josh Sanguinetti — both seniors — combined for five interceptions, and Moore finished second on the Hoosiers in tackles, with 82.
Perhaps there were better available candidates, but Day did OK for himself with Guerrieri and we’ll see how this pans out for the Buckeyes in 2024 when the new assistant has a solid group of returners and incoming transfer Caleb Downs from Alabama.
Grade: B
Tim Walton’s Promotion
The OSU secondary / cornerbacks coach was handed the addition of “assistant head coach” to his title, and for good reason. Walton is quickly becoming the Brian Hartline of the defensive side of the ball. Recruiting has improved by leaps and bounds and Walton’s position group was solid in 2023, returning Denzel Burke to his previous level of excellence. This move should help keep a coach around who could be in high demand if he can continue to operate at this kind of level.
Grade: A+
Larry Johnson’s Extension through 2025
For the last few years, Ohio State’s defensive line has not been what it once was. The tackles did a better job in 2023 than in 2022. The defensive ends haven’t exactly been lights out, but Jack Sawyer’s emergence at the end of the season was encouraging. Johnson has struggled to find the right balance between substituting too much and not enough over the last couple of seasons. And production on the edge — including setting said edge — must improve for Ohio State’s defense to return to elite status.
What Ohio State needs is a transition plan. Negative recruiting based on Johnson’s age isn’t going to stop with his two-year extension. Other coaches can easily point out that Johnson may not be around for a prized recruit’s full career. What Day should do is bring in Johnson’s eventual replacement as a high-priced analyst and the Buckeyes can tell recruits that Johnson is going to coach them, but if he should leave during that recruit’s collegiate career, his replacement is known, and in the meantime he’ll be passing his knowledge on to some younger, ball-of-energy guy that will take over.
Johnson has earned the right to go out on his own terms, but let’s get more sacks out of the defensive ends, shall we?
Grade: C
Hiring James Laurinaitis
Adding Little Animal to the OSU coaching staff, after he served as an analyst in 2023, is something that most Ohio State fans wanted. It’s a feel-good story. We think he’ll be great as the team’s linebackers coach and that he’ll be an excellent recruiter.
However, we don’t have any data to back anything up at this point. It seems like a great hire, but it could go in many different directions. We’d all certainly like to see this move succeed, but at the moment it’s just someone we like, and who we think can do the job, getting added to the staff.
This is a difficult one to rate at this point, as it could easily be higher or lower. I’ll split the difference.
Grade: B
Continue reading...
LGHL As focus shifts to Ohio State women’s basketball, team looks further inward
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As focus shifts to Ohio State women’s basketball, team looks further inward
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
What’s fueling the protective shell built around the No. 2 Buckeyes?
Thursday, the NCAA selection committee announced its first top-16 ranking, as the regular season inches closer to its finale. In it, Ohio State women’s basketball earned a No. 3 ranking, meaning a likely No. 1 seeding in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Combine that with a No. 2 ranking in the country by the Associated Press and it’s an exciting time for the Buckeyes — if they cared about that kind of stuff.
The scarlet and gray are on a 12-game winning streak, defeating the likes of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Indiana Hoosiers, and seemingly looking stronger each time the team takes the court. Wednesday, it was a 33-point victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a team coming off a win over the then-No. 2 ranked Hawkeyes.
It would be easy for players to be swept up in the excitement, but the Buckeyes have been in a spot like this before, and it is just a quick trip down memory lane to January 2023.
Starting the 2023 calendar year, Ohio State was on a 19-game winning streak, creating a program record for the best opening of a season. Then it all crumbled down. Ohio State lost on a triple-double day for Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, followed by a loss in Assembly Hall to the Hoosiers, then it was a home defeat to the Purdue Boilermakers.
All in all, the lack of success started a chain reaction of subpar performances that weren’t fully recovered from until the Buckeyes found their form again at the end of the regular season, carrying it to the Elite Eight.
During last season’s build-up, players and coaches all said the right things, about focusing on the next game. Still, when losses turned into more losses, and performances continually slumping, it was hard to believe it in hindsight.
Before Ohio State faced the Michigan State Spartans, on Sunday, the Hawkeyes let go of a 14-point deficit to fall to the Cornhuskers. That was 45 minutes before the scarlet and gray tipped off in East Lansing, Michigan.
Buckeyes’ graduate senior guard Celeste Taylor was completely unaware.
“We played probably when they were still playing. So we didn’t find out until after the fact,” said Taylor. “We’re not focused on the outside noise. A lot of things are internal here and things that we want to keep together as a unit, a family, and keep it inside.”
OSU’s on-court performances in 2024 have made these kinds of comments more believable. Ohio State went on to win 86-71 against Sparty, a win sandwiched between two defensive showings holding Big Ten opponents to 47 points. The Buckeyes’ victories have shown a hungrier defensive side compared to past seasons. How are the scarlet and gray able to protect themselves from a place of comfort that an abundance of praise can often create?
“I think just having this tight-knit group and having so many people who wanna win,” said graduate senior guard Jacy Sheldon. “Everybody here wants to win, everybody wants to see everyone do well. I think that’s rare in a group and especially a group that’s talented, so it’s exciting.”
After coming back from 12 points down to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Jan. 21, a deficit the Buckeyes weren’t aware of until asked about it after the game, Ohio State had a bit of a big-win hangover, but saw it through the other side to start playing its best basketball of the season.
Following two close calls in away games against the Illinois Fighting Illini and Purdue Boilermakers, the Scarlet and Gray are overwhelming opponents. Against the then No. 10 ranked Indiana Hoosiers, Ohio State held a 14-point lead in the second half. The next game, against the Wisconsin Badgers, was a record-tying 39-point third quarter of scoring for head coach Kevin McGuff’s side.
In the last five games alone, the Buckeyes outscored opponents 139-59 in the third quarter. It isn’t only offense. In February, three of Ohio State’s five wins ended with opponents scoring less than 50 points. The Buckeyes are reaching impressive numbers not only with its starting five but a deep bench.
“We’re getting really positive contributions from a lot of people, and I think it’s going to be important,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “Given our style of play, we want to be really fresh in March, and I think our bench is going to have to be a big part of that.”
Against the Cornhuskers, multiple players took their turns impacting the game as substitutes. Guard Rikki Harris went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, scoring 11 points. Forward Taiyier Parks grabbed three rebounds against Nebraska’s interior presence of center Alexis Markowski and forward Natalie Potts.
Now, on a break until Thursday, Feb. 22, Ohio State takes its “next game” focus into the final four games of the season, with fate sitting in the team’s hands alone. Win three of the next four and a piece of the Big Ten regular season title belongs to the Buckeyes. Win all four and the hardware is the Scarlet and gray’s alone.
Should Ohio State continue its winning ways, especially in a rematch against the Hawkeyes on March 3, it’ll be increasingly more difficult for the inner sanctum of the Buckeyes to hold off the noise.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
What’s fueling the protective shell built around the No. 2 Buckeyes?
Thursday, the NCAA selection committee announced its first top-16 ranking, as the regular season inches closer to its finale. In it, Ohio State women’s basketball earned a No. 3 ranking, meaning a likely No. 1 seeding in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Combine that with a No. 2 ranking in the country by the Associated Press and it’s an exciting time for the Buckeyes — if they cared about that kind of stuff.
The scarlet and gray are on a 12-game winning streak, defeating the likes of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Indiana Hoosiers, and seemingly looking stronger each time the team takes the court. Wednesday, it was a 33-point victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a team coming off a win over the then-No. 2 ranked Hawkeyes.
It would be easy for players to be swept up in the excitement, but the Buckeyes have been in a spot like this before, and it is just a quick trip down memory lane to January 2023.
Starting the 2023 calendar year, Ohio State was on a 19-game winning streak, creating a program record for the best opening of a season. Then it all crumbled down. Ohio State lost on a triple-double day for Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, followed by a loss in Assembly Hall to the Hoosiers, then it was a home defeat to the Purdue Boilermakers.
All in all, the lack of success started a chain reaction of subpar performances that weren’t fully recovered from until the Buckeyes found their form again at the end of the regular season, carrying it to the Elite Eight.
During last season’s build-up, players and coaches all said the right things, about focusing on the next game. Still, when losses turned into more losses, and performances continually slumping, it was hard to believe it in hindsight.
Before Ohio State faced the Michigan State Spartans, on Sunday, the Hawkeyes let go of a 14-point deficit to fall to the Cornhuskers. That was 45 minutes before the scarlet and gray tipped off in East Lansing, Michigan.
Buckeyes’ graduate senior guard Celeste Taylor was completely unaware.
“We played probably when they were still playing. So we didn’t find out until after the fact,” said Taylor. “We’re not focused on the outside noise. A lot of things are internal here and things that we want to keep together as a unit, a family, and keep it inside.”
OSU’s on-court performances in 2024 have made these kinds of comments more believable. Ohio State went on to win 86-71 against Sparty, a win sandwiched between two defensive showings holding Big Ten opponents to 47 points. The Buckeyes’ victories have shown a hungrier defensive side compared to past seasons. How are the scarlet and gray able to protect themselves from a place of comfort that an abundance of praise can often create?
“I think just having this tight-knit group and having so many people who wanna win,” said graduate senior guard Jacy Sheldon. “Everybody here wants to win, everybody wants to see everyone do well. I think that’s rare in a group and especially a group that’s talented, so it’s exciting.”
After coming back from 12 points down to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Jan. 21, a deficit the Buckeyes weren’t aware of until asked about it after the game, Ohio State had a bit of a big-win hangover, but saw it through the other side to start playing its best basketball of the season.
Following two close calls in away games against the Illinois Fighting Illini and Purdue Boilermakers, the Scarlet and Gray are overwhelming opponents. Against the then No. 10 ranked Indiana Hoosiers, Ohio State held a 14-point lead in the second half. The next game, against the Wisconsin Badgers, was a record-tying 39-point third quarter of scoring for head coach Kevin McGuff’s side.
In the last five games alone, the Buckeyes outscored opponents 139-59 in the third quarter. It isn’t only offense. In February, three of Ohio State’s five wins ended with opponents scoring less than 50 points. The Buckeyes are reaching impressive numbers not only with its starting five but a deep bench.
“We’re getting really positive contributions from a lot of people, and I think it’s going to be important,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “Given our style of play, we want to be really fresh in March, and I think our bench is going to have to be a big part of that.”
Against the Cornhuskers, multiple players took their turns impacting the game as substitutes. Guard Rikki Harris went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, scoring 11 points. Forward Taiyier Parks grabbed three rebounds against Nebraska’s interior presence of center Alexis Markowski and forward Natalie Potts.
. @TaiyierParks fans rise uppic.twitter.com/Gt1pJOY4qP
— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) February 15, 2024
Now, on a break until Thursday, Feb. 22, Ohio State takes its “next game” focus into the final four games of the season, with fate sitting in the team’s hands alone. Win three of the next four and a piece of the Big Ten regular season title belongs to the Buckeyes. Win all four and the hardware is the Scarlet and gray’s alone.
Should Ohio State continue its winning ways, especially in a rematch against the Hawkeyes on March 3, it’ll be increasingly more difficult for the inner sanctum of the Buckeyes to hold off the noise.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Which coaches would not be a good hire for the Ohio State men’s basketball team?
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You’re Nuts: Which coaches would not be a good hire for the Ohio State men’s basketball team?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
There’s plenty of lists of good candidates on the internet already. Here’s who we think wouldn’t be good hires for this program.
Well, here we are. Ohio State has officially parted ways with head coach Chris Holtmann during his seventh season, as the Buckeyes are currently 14-11 overall and 4-10 in the Big Ten.
Now that Holtmann is out of the picture, incoming athletic director Ross Bjork will spearhead the search for the next leader of the Ohio State men’s basketball program once he begins in March.
Last week, Connor and Justin looked ahead on the Buckeyes’ schedule, and tried to predict if this team will play spoiler to anyone in the Big Ten who needs to avoid a bad loss — since Ohio State is once again considered a bad loss. 84% of people sided with Connor, saying the Buckeyes would either lose all of their games, or if they beat anyone, it wouldn’t be a win that would impact anyone’s tounament chances. The other 16% sided with Justin, who for some reason is adamant Ohio State is going to beat Michigan State at Breslin in a few weeks.
Connor- 67
There are dozens of names floating around the internet who could be candidates for the position. Most are sitting power conference coaches. Some are former Ohio State assistants. Others are retired Hall of Famers who are now working for CBS. Plenty of good options.
But who isn’t a good option?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25288848/usa_today_11617653.jpg "Syndication: Cincinnati")
Sam Greene
Let’s start with the good things about Mick Cronin. He’s a strong recruiter both domestically and internationally, even if some of the international recruits haven’t quite panned out this season. He’s shown the capability to win with both offensively and defensively-minded teams. He also spent 13 seasons at Cincinnati, where he went to the NCAA Tournament in each of his last nine seasons. So... he’s not not familiar with the midwest. In addition to Ohio State, he’s also been rumored to be a candidate for the Louisville job if it opens up once the season ends.
My hesitance with Cronin doesn’t have nearly as much to do with the credentials as it does his demeanor on the court and with the media, as well as his hefty buyout at UCLA. Throughout his career, Cronin has established a reputation as a hard-nosed, fiery coach who isn’t afraid to tell off his players and the officials. From the outside looking in, he doesn’t exactly look like a “player’s coach” even if he wins games. There’s been multiple times this season after UCLA losses where Cronin has either demeaned or embarassed media members, or just skipped the press conference altogether.
It doesn’t matter if you loved or hated Chris Holtmann, everyone agrees that the now-former head coach ran a program where players felt like they were part of a family. Holtmann treated his players like his own sons, and recruited kids who were easy to root for. He was almost always kind and thoughtful with the media, and made voluntarily extra appearances during the off-season. Something tells me Cronin doesn’t roll that way.
On top of that, Cronin has a $20 million-dollar buyout if he leaves before April 1. Since Ohio State is already paying Holtmann $12.8 million, it would be tough to pay multiple buyouts and then pay Cronin whatever his yearly salary would be. I do not see Ohio State doing that.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25288900/usa_today_22393961.jpg "NCAA Basketball: North Texas at Florida Atlantic")
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
I want to preface my answer by saying this really has nothing to do with his coaching ability. May is an awesome head coach with a proven track record and recent success in the NCAA Tournament, which is obviously a big deal to Ohio State fans.
For some background, if you are unfamiliar with the Florida Atlantic head coach, May is 120-65 as a head coach with an impressive 4-1 record in the NCAA Tournament. That is just one appearance, but it was a heck of a run in 2023.
May served as a student manager at Indiana under Bob Knight as an undergraduate from 1996 to 2000. He had video and administrative roles with both USC and Indiana before landing his first assistant coaching job at Eastern Michigan, where he was on staff for the 2005-06 season.
May followed Mike White to take an assistant coaching job at Florida, where he served from 2015 to 2018. He took the Florida Atlantic job in 2018, and it is his only head coaching job so far in his career.
The reason I am skeptical about going all in on May is the Indiana Hoosiers.
I fear he could be in Columbus for a short time. He is an Indiana guy who was born in the Hoosier State and learned under Bob Knight. If the Mike Woodson era would come to an end soon, May would be the first call Indiana makes. And no matter where he is or how long he has been there, I think there is merit to May leaving and going to Indiana.
So, if you hire him, I truly think there is a chance you could be doing a head coaching search again in a year or two. Similar to Mario Cristobal when he went from Oregon to Miami.
Maybe Woodson will turn it around at Indiana, or maybe May will not leave after a couple of years, but there are other coaches out there that have a similar resume or even better that you will not have this concern with.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
There’s plenty of lists of good candidates on the internet already. Here’s who we think wouldn’t be good hires for this program.
Well, here we are. Ohio State has officially parted ways with head coach Chris Holtmann during his seventh season, as the Buckeyes are currently 14-11 overall and 4-10 in the Big Ten.
Now that Holtmann is out of the picture, incoming athletic director Ross Bjork will spearhead the search for the next leader of the Ohio State men’s basketball program once he begins in March.
Last week, Connor and Justin looked ahead on the Buckeyes’ schedule, and tried to predict if this team will play spoiler to anyone in the Big Ten who needs to avoid a bad loss — since Ohio State is once again considered a bad loss. 84% of people sided with Connor, saying the Buckeyes would either lose all of their games, or if they beat anyone, it wouldn’t be a win that would impact anyone’s tounament chances. The other 16% sided with Justin, who for some reason is adamant Ohio State is going to beat Michigan State at Breslin in a few weeks.
After 139 weeks:
Connor- 67
Justin- 53
Other- 15
(There have been four ties)
There are dozens of names floating around the internet who could be candidates for the position. Most are sitting power conference coaches. Some are former Ohio State assistants. Others are retired Hall of Famers who are now working for CBS. Plenty of good options.
But who isn’t a good option?
Today’s Question: Which coach would not be good hire for Ohio State?
Connor: Mick Cronin
Let’s start with the good things about Mick Cronin. He’s a strong recruiter both domestically and internationally, even if some of the international recruits haven’t quite panned out this season. He’s shown the capability to win with both offensively and defensively-minded teams. He also spent 13 seasons at Cincinnati, where he went to the NCAA Tournament in each of his last nine seasons. So... he’s not not familiar with the midwest. In addition to Ohio State, he’s also been rumored to be a candidate for the Louisville job if it opens up once the season ends.
My hesitance with Cronin doesn’t have nearly as much to do with the credentials as it does his demeanor on the court and with the media, as well as his hefty buyout at UCLA. Throughout his career, Cronin has established a reputation as a hard-nosed, fiery coach who isn’t afraid to tell off his players and the officials. From the outside looking in, he doesn’t exactly look like a “player’s coach” even if he wins games. There’s been multiple times this season after UCLA losses where Cronin has either demeaned or embarassed media members, or just skipped the press conference altogether.
It doesn’t matter if you loved or hated Chris Holtmann, everyone agrees that the now-former head coach ran a program where players felt like they were part of a family. Holtmann treated his players like his own sons, and recruited kids who were easy to root for. He was almost always kind and thoughtful with the media, and made voluntarily extra appearances during the off-season. Something tells me Cronin doesn’t roll that way.
On top of that, Cronin has a $20 million-dollar buyout if he leaves before April 1. Since Ohio State is already paying Holtmann $12.8 million, it would be tough to pay multiple buyouts and then pay Cronin whatever his yearly salary would be. I do not see Ohio State doing that.
Justin: Dusty May
I want to preface my answer by saying this really has nothing to do with his coaching ability. May is an awesome head coach with a proven track record and recent success in the NCAA Tournament, which is obviously a big deal to Ohio State fans.
For some background, if you are unfamiliar with the Florida Atlantic head coach, May is 120-65 as a head coach with an impressive 4-1 record in the NCAA Tournament. That is just one appearance, but it was a heck of a run in 2023.
May served as a student manager at Indiana under Bob Knight as an undergraduate from 1996 to 2000. He had video and administrative roles with both USC and Indiana before landing his first assistant coaching job at Eastern Michigan, where he was on staff for the 2005-06 season.
May followed Mike White to take an assistant coaching job at Florida, where he served from 2015 to 2018. He took the Florida Atlantic job in 2018, and it is his only head coaching job so far in his career.
The reason I am skeptical about going all in on May is the Indiana Hoosiers.
I fear he could be in Columbus for a short time. He is an Indiana guy who was born in the Hoosier State and learned under Bob Knight. If the Mike Woodson era would come to an end soon, May would be the first call Indiana makes. And no matter where he is or how long he has been there, I think there is merit to May leaving and going to Indiana.
So, if you hire him, I truly think there is a chance you could be doing a head coaching search again in a year or two. Similar to Mario Cristobal when he went from Oregon to Miami.
Maybe Woodson will turn it around at Indiana, or maybe May will not leave after a couple of years, but there are other coaches out there that have a similar resume or even better that you will not have this concern with.
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LGHL Top linebacker targets react to Laurinaitis promotion, Ohio State gets another Crystal Ball for five-star safety
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Top linebacker targets react to Laurinaitis promotion, Ohio State gets another Crystal Ball for five-star safety
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The promotion of James Laurinaitis is a great thing for Ohio State in multiple areas, one of which being recruiting.
It’s been a busy offseason for Ohio State thus far, but it’s been an extremely successful one to say the least. Recruiting wins in the transfer portal own must of the luster and rightfully so. Still, other areas of the program have seen just as much success thanks to the aggressive approach this coaching staff is taking.
High school recruiting seems to be at an all-time high, and keeping the coaches in Columbus who are helping fuel that success is a major priority for Ryan Day. Fortunately, Thursday proved that this staff is locked in for the next few years, showing that good things are still to come.
Ohio State made a few moves for its 2024 coaching staff on Thursday. Most notably, the promotion of James Laurinaitis to the full-time linebackers coach is finally official.
A move that may have been coming for a while now, this is a major win for the program, as he brings a wealth of talent to the spot. Sure, the Buckeyes have already benefitted from him being a GA, but being in a more permanent role means he’s here for the long haul and gives him more responsibilities.
Of those responsibilities, recruiting is right at the front of the them. Already showing he’s capable of being a force on the trail, being a full-time position coach now means James has the ability to go out on the road recruiting rather than just doing so when prospects are on campus. Having done this the last couple of months thanks to the departure of Parker Fleming, Ohio State has seen the rewards of sending him all over the country, and odds are his success in this area is a big factor as to why the promotion came.
Looking to bring in multiple linebackers in this 2025 class, Laurinaitis already impresses Ohio State’s top targets because of his overall knowledge at the position. Having played at Ohio State and in the NFL for as long as he did, recruits respect a guy who’s been there and done that, and certainly shared their thoughts on why they too believe this was the right call.
Twitter being filled with stamps of approval from some of their top rated players is exactly why this was the right call for Ohio State, and why the Buckeyes should be in contention for some of the top players at this spot not only in 2025, but for years to come.
The recruiting wins for the defensive secondary the past two years may be close to the best in program history. In the 2024 class, Ohio State brought in three cornerbacks that each were huge additions and proved that Walton was really starting to figure things out on the recruiting trail as one of the better recruiters on this staff.
Now in 2025, Walton is not only one of the best on staff, but in the country as well as he currently has the top two cornerbacks nationally already committed in Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord. While these two-five stars would be enough in any recruiting class, the Buckeyes aren’t done yet, and are still in great shape to add more defensive backs for this cycle — one of which continues to see his named pegged to the Buckeyes.
The No. 25 player nationally and the top safety in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Faheem Delane has long been the top player on the board for the Buckeyes at the safety spot, and the last couple of weeks have been pretty fun to follow as the momentum for Ohio State looks to be really taking off. Receiving another 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in favor of the Buckeyes on Thursday, there’s now multiple national analysts that have Walton and Ohio State as the landing spot for Delane.
An addition that would give Ohio State the top two corners and the top safety overall, the work is not yet finished, but when there’s this much smoke it usually means there is fire. The boom could come at any time, and if it does you can label this defensive back haul as easily the best in the country and one of the best in Ohio State’s history.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The promotion of James Laurinaitis is a great thing for Ohio State in multiple areas, one of which being recruiting.
It’s been a busy offseason for Ohio State thus far, but it’s been an extremely successful one to say the least. Recruiting wins in the transfer portal own must of the luster and rightfully so. Still, other areas of the program have seen just as much success thanks to the aggressive approach this coaching staff is taking.
High school recruiting seems to be at an all-time high, and keeping the coaches in Columbus who are helping fuel that success is a major priority for Ryan Day. Fortunately, Thursday proved that this staff is locked in for the next few years, showing that good things are still to come.
Ohio State keeps Laurinaitis home
Ohio State made a few moves for its 2024 coaching staff on Thursday. Most notably, the promotion of James Laurinaitis to the full-time linebackers coach is finally official.
A move that may have been coming for a while now, this is a major win for the program, as he brings a wealth of talent to the spot. Sure, the Buckeyes have already benefitted from him being a GA, but being in a more permanent role means he’s here for the long haul and gives him more responsibilities.
Of those responsibilities, recruiting is right at the front of the them. Already showing he’s capable of being a force on the trail, being a full-time position coach now means James has the ability to go out on the road recruiting rather than just doing so when prospects are on campus. Having done this the last couple of months thanks to the departure of Parker Fleming, Ohio State has seen the rewards of sending him all over the country, and odds are his success in this area is a big factor as to why the promotion came.
Looking to bring in multiple linebackers in this 2025 class, Laurinaitis already impresses Ohio State’s top targets because of his overall knowledge at the position. Having played at Ohio State and in the NFL for as long as he did, recruits respect a guy who’s been there and done that, and certainly shared their thoughts on why they too believe this was the right call.
Twitter being filled with stamps of approval from some of their top rated players is exactly why this was the right call for Ohio State, and why the Buckeyes should be in contention for some of the top players at this spot not only in 2025, but for years to come.
The good vibes continue on for five-star safety
The recruiting wins for the defensive secondary the past two years may be close to the best in program history. In the 2024 class, Ohio State brought in three cornerbacks that each were huge additions and proved that Walton was really starting to figure things out on the recruiting trail as one of the better recruiters on this staff.
Now in 2025, Walton is not only one of the best on staff, but in the country as well as he currently has the top two cornerbacks nationally already committed in Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord. While these two-five stars would be enough in any recruiting class, the Buckeyes aren’t done yet, and are still in great shape to add more defensive backs for this cycle — one of which continues to see his named pegged to the Buckeyes.
The No. 25 player nationally and the top safety in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Faheem Delane has long been the top player on the board for the Buckeyes at the safety spot, and the last couple of weeks have been pretty fun to follow as the momentum for Ohio State looks to be really taking off. Receiving another 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in favor of the Buckeyes on Thursday, there’s now multiple national analysts that have Walton and Ohio State as the landing spot for Delane.
An addition that would give Ohio State the top two corners and the top safety overall, the work is not yet finished, but when there’s this much smoke it usually means there is fire. The boom could come at any time, and if it does you can label this defensive back haul as easily the best in the country and one of the best in Ohio State’s history.
Continue reading...
