It was very public that kerry was demoted for barnes. It wasn't even the usual "we'll have a few people doing it together" thing.
It was public that he was demoted from calling to defensive plays on sidelines.
How Kerry Coombs turned his demotion as Ohio State's defensive play-caller into a coaching point
Being demoted from Ohio State's defensive play-caller
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As part of the change, Coombs moved from the field to the press box. He no longer makes the calls, but noted Tuesday the process is so collaborative that "I feel like anybody could make the call."
The move allows him to see the game more, but does come with one draw back: instead of hugging his players after big games, now he has to settle for Kevin Wilson. "I gotta be honest with you," he said, "that's not the same." Coombs misses hugging his dudes "desperately," but the change has been best for the team and complaining about a lack of satisfactory hug targets is, in his word, "selfish," and if it takes him losing his play-calling and post-play-hugging ability is what it takes for Ohio State to reach its potential, that's a price Coombs is willing to pay.
Entire article:
https://footballscoop.com/news/kerry-coombs-demotion-take-own-advice-coaching-point-ohio-state
Since it didn't specifically say "demoted front DC", he's just now in the press box with the OC (i.e Kevin wilson) and (supposedly) collaborating on the defensive schemes, and Ohio State still lists him as DC
https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-footbl/roster/; I ass/u/me d he was still doing (at least) some of the DC duties. I have no idea what goes on behind the scenes; however, you are probably right, i.e. Barnes is running the defensive show (i.e. has the final say only subject to a Ryan Day veto) for the Ohio State defense now.
It will be interesting to see how it shakes out with the assistant defensive coaches for next season between Barnes and Coombs, i.e. who is still on (or not on) the coaching staff, what their duties are, and what their salaries are, etc. I previously posted in Coombs' thread that I think Day will wait until after the season to see how the remaining games go, then do his annual evaluation of his coaching staff, and then actually decide who to offer a 2022 contract to at what duties and salary, etc.
