Matt Guerrieri, Ohio State safeties coach

If Day elects to make an internal hire, Guerrieri seems to be the top candidate. He has worked closely alongside Knowles dating back to their overlap at Duke (2012-17)

Guerrieri was an analyst for Ohio State in 2022 – Knowles’ first season in Columbus. He was a safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator at Indiana last season before returning to Ohio State.

During his speech, Day made his thoughts on Guerrieri clear.

“One of the brightest minds in college football, and, I’m telling you, a star in the making,” Day said.

Bryant Haines, Indiana defensive coordinator

Haines played an integral role in Indiana’s surprising run to the College Football Playoff this season.

He coached a defense that ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense, second in total defense and first in rushing defense.

Haines followed Indiana coach Curt Cignetti from their time together at James Madison. As a graduate assistant in 2013, Haines worked with Ohio State’s linebackers.

Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator

Ohio State fans are familiar with Hafley who served as Day’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2019.

The New Jersey native left the Buckeyes after one season to serve as Boston College’s head coach before leaving for the NFL ahead of the 2024 season.

After one year with the Packers, would Hafley be interested in running Day’s defense?

Vic Fangio of the Eagles is believed to be the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the NFL ($4.5 million), according to a Front Office Sports.

Ohio State offered to make Knowles the highest-paid defensive coordinator at the college level, with a salary of more than $2.75 million.

Anthony Campanile, Green Bay Packers linebackers coach

Hafley may not be the lone Packers staffer who could intrigue Ohio State. Campanile also joined the Packers ahead of the 2024 season after previously working with the Dolphins.

Prior to the NFL, his career path included various collegiate stops. Among those, he worked at Boston College (2016-18) where he overlapped with Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye.

Mike Siravo, Minnesota Vikings inside linebackers coach

Boston College’s 2011 staff was riddled with rising stars.

Day was the receivers coach while Ben Johnson – now the Bears’ head coach – was a graduate assistant/tight ends coach.

Siravo was also on that staff coaching defensive backs. He left the collegiate level in 2020 when he joined the Panthers. He arrived in Minnesota in 2023 and has coached inside linebackers since.

Randy Bates, Pittsburgh defensive coordinator

Bates, a graduate of Ohio State, has been with Pitt since 2018.

His coaching career featured a stop at New Hampshire in which he overlapped (1992–1997) with OSU offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.