Ohio State football defensive coordinator search: Updating the latest movement

Posted by author January 30, 2025 Football

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football coach Ryan Day has put together a tutorial on life after winning a national title.

In the 10 days that have passed since OSU’s win vs. Notre Dame, Day has made TV appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Kelly Clarkson Show.

He’s also been a guest on the Dan Patrick Show as well as The Steam Room podcast hosted by TNT’s Ernie Johnson and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.

Amid much of it, he’s been recruiting and looking for a new defensive coordinator after Jim Knowles left for the same position at Penn State.

Here’s a round-up of the latest news pertinent to Ohio State’s defensive coordinator search.

A former Wisconsin coach is likely staying in the NFL

Former Wisconsin defensive coordinator — and interim head coach (2022) — Jim Leonhard seems to be staying put in the NFL.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier this week that Leonhard has elected to stay in his role as defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator with the Denver Broncos.

Leonhard spent 10 seasons playing in the NFL (2005-14) before starting his coaching career at his alma mater Wisconsin in 2016.

After one season as the Badgers’ defensive backs coach, he was promoted to coordinator (2017-22). He spent the 2023 season as an analyst for Illinois before heading to the NFL.

A Big Ten coordinator has been extended

Shortly after news broke about Knowles’ departure Sunday, Indiana and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines agreed to a new deal.

In a report from the Indianapolis Star, the deal is described as more lucrative, though the exact figures haven’t been release.

It also includes an updated buyout structure as Haines has been a common name linked to various defensive coordinator openings.

Could Ohio State tap into the NFL?

Day has interest in interviewing Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen, according to a report from 247Sports.

Cullen has been in Kansas City since 2022, but the 57-year-old has a vast coaching history that includes multiple stops at the collegiate level.

In 2021, Cullen served as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive coordinator under Urban Meyer — the former Ohio State coach who hired Day as his offensive coordinator.

Cullen is also from Quincy, Massachusetts, and attended UMass. Day holds connections to the New England area as a native of Manchester, New Hampshire.