Ryan Day, Ohio State head coach

Day admitted that giving up play-calling wasn’t something he wanted to do. He felt it was the right thing to do, letting him serve in more of a CEO role for the program.

However, finding a coordinator wasn’t easy.

He originally hired Bill O’Brien – an established play-caller with experience coaching Tom Brady, DeShaun Watson and Bryce Young.

When O’Brien departed shortly after to serve as Boston College’s head coach, Day again turned to his longtime mentor and former coach.

It’s clear Day only wanted to turn over offensive responsibilities to someone he trusted. If it’s hard to find a candidate worthy of that, Day could decide to take back control.

Kevin Wilson, former Tulsa head coach

Wilson has, technically, already served as Day’s offensive coordinator in Columbus (2017-22). However, Day still maintained play-calling duties.

Perhaps this is the time to bring Wilson back.

Wilson left Ohio State ahead of the 2023 season to serve as Tulsa’s head coach. After collecting a 7-16 record, Wilson was fired with one game remaining in the 2024 campaign.

Wilson voiced his support for the Buckeyes throughout their College Football Playoff run, thanks in large part to his son, Toby Wilson, serving as a walk-on offensive lineman for the team.

Joe Moorhead, Akron head coach

When he was hired as Alabama’s head coach last year, Kalen DeBoer hired Kane Wommack — then the active head coach at South Alabama — as his defensive coordinator.

Day could follow a similar formula by hiring an active head coach from a Group of Five school in his state.

Joe Moorhead has been at the helm for Akron since 2022. Prior to joining the Zips, he spent two years (2020-21) as Oregon’s offensive coordinator, helping lead the Ducks to a 35-28 win at Ohio State early in the 2021 campaign.

His previous stops include a two-year stint (2018-19) as Mississippi State’s head coach after two seasons as Penn State’s offensive coordinator (2016-17).

Brian Hartline, Ohio State receivers coach

Hartline has become one of the top position coaches in the country. He’s recruited and developed Ohio State’s receivers room to an impressive spot, highlighted by the immediate emergence of Jeremiah Smith into a star.

Perhaps it’s time he take a bigger role.

Hartline has been with the Buckeyes since he was hired as an offensive quality control assistant under Urban Meyer in 2017. He was elevated to receivers coach in 2018 – a role he has held even after Day took over as head coach in 2019.

Hartline added the title of offensive coordinator to his résumé in 2023, though Day remained the play-caller.

After six seasons with Day, including one under Kelly, Hartline should be ready for the responsibility if called upon.

Will Stein, Oregon offensive coordinator

Oregon has emerged as a conference rival as well as a recruiting foe for Ohio State under coach Dan Lanning. Perhaps Day can deliver a powerful swing and bring Stein from the Ducks to the Buckeyes.

Stein, a native of Kentucky who played quarterback at Louisville, has been Oregon’s offensive coordinator since 2023. He’s helped lead one of the most prolific offenses in college football, highlighted by the play of quarterbacks Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel.

Stein’s coaching career started as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2013. He spent the 2014 campaign as a quality control coach before leaving for a similar role at Texas (2015-2017).

Stein moved to the Texas high school ranks for two years before joining the staff at University of Texas at San Antonio (2020-22).

Jason Candle, Toledo head coach

Pursuing Candle would follow a similar formula to hiring Moorhead.

Candle has been Toledo’s head coach since 2016, consistently leading one of the top scoring offenses in the Mid-American Conference.

Candle is a former wide receiver who played at Geneva College and the University of Mount Union. His coaching career started as a receivers coach for Mount Union (2003-06) before he was elevated to offensive coordinator (2007-08).

He arrived at Toledo in 2009 where he coached various positions, included a stint as offensive coordinator (2012-2015), before getting elevated to head coach after Matt Campbell left for Iowa State.