COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio State football coach Ryan Day recently praised defensive coordinator Jim Knowles during the Buckeyes championship celebration at Ohio Stadium, acknowledging the defense dominant performance throughout the College Football Playoff. However, Knowles was notably absent from the event, and just an hour later, reports confirmed that he is leaving Ohio State to become Penn State next defensive coordinator.
Now, Day is tasked with finding a replacement as he heads into his seventh season as head coach. Here are a couple of potential candidates who could fill the defensive coordinator role:
Matt Guerrieri, Ohio State Safeties Coach
If Day opts for an internal hire, Guerrieri appears to be the frontrunner. Having worked closely with Knowles during their time at Duke (2012-2017), Guerrieri is well-versed in the defensive strategies that helped Ohio State achieve success. After a brief stint as an analyst at Ohio State in 2022, he returned as safeties coach. Prior to that, he served as co-defensive coordinator at Indiana. During the celebration, Day praised Guerrieri, calling him “one of the brightest minds in college football and a star in the making.
Bryant Haines, Indiana Defensive Coordinator
Haines played a pivotal role in Indiana impressive season, helping the team reach the College Football Playoff. Under his leadership, Indiana defense ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense, second in total defense, and first in rushing defense. Haines background includes a strong relationship with Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, having worked together at James Madison. Additionally, Haines has ties to Ohio State, where he served as a graduate assistant working with the Buckeyes linebackers in 2013.
As the search for a new defensive coordinator unfolds, these names could be at the top of Day list to continue Ohio Statedefensive success.
