Werner’s career spanned two Ohio State head coaches, beginning under Urban Meyer and finishing with Ryan Day. Werner spoke about the differences between the two on The Marty Smith Podcast.
“So, both great coaches,” Werner said. “Don’t have anything against them, I respect both of them. They both helped me tremendously for my career, but for different reasons.
“Urban Meyer was, and obviously from the outside perspective you can get this as well, but very intense. More of a special teams guy. Great leader, motivator type of coach,” Pete Werner said of his former coach. “And he would get on you. He would get in your face. He would really teach you how to play hard. I credit him for when I first got to Ohio State to kind of developing, instilling that toughness in my mind. And getting that mental toughness ready and early.
“Then Ryan Day comes along and he’s more the players’ coach,” Werner said. “Very smart IQ, and not saying Urban didn’t obviously. But [Day] was an offensive guy. He was calling a lot of plays [under Meyer], everything was in his favor. But everybody knew him. You could talk to him, you could sit down for lunch with him. He’s a great guy, just more of a players’ coach and just a different style, which I think college football is starting to see a little bit rather than the kind of old school look. Both great techniques, great styles. I learned and gained from both of their different styles. So, I was thankful to have both of them.”
