Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke to the media for the first time Tuesday since offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Kevin Wilson announced he will be taking the open head coaching job at Tulsa, and Day said the Buckeyes will focus on announcing any further staff changes after the season is finished.
“We’ll kind of cross that bridge after the season,” he said. “We’re going to just focus on right now.”
Day confirmed that Wilson will continue to coach for the Buckeyes through the College Football Playoff while splitting his time between Columbus and Tulsa as he prepares to take over his new program.
“He’s been doing a great job of (splitting responsibilities),” Day said of Wilson. “He’s working 24 hours a day right now, but he’s keeping Ohio State and our path to the national championship first and foremost in his mind.
“Then he’s obviously got a lot going and planning ahead of Tulsa. But he’s been in practices, he’s going to be here again this weekend. It’s a challenge when you have to kind of juggle both things. But he’s going to make sure that he does everything he can help us win this.”
As for Wilson’s replacement, it’s been widely reported that quality control coach Keenan Bailey will take over at tight ends coach for Ohio State, with a determination yet to be made on who will fill Wilson’s offensive coordinator responsibilities.
Though Day declined to officially confirm Bailey’s new title, he was complimentary of the job Bailey has done in his seven seasons at Ohio State.
“We’re not going to do anything formal till after the after the season but I can say this – Keenan Bailey is an excellent coach,” Day said. “He’s a really sharp young man who’s going to do unbelievable things in his career. And the relationships he’s built over time with former players, current players, recruits and families has been excellent.
“Keenan has turned down a lot of opportunities to go other places over the last couple years. And He’s stayed here and been a huge help. So he’s got a very bright future.”
