Just one day after Ohio State’s stunning 13-10 loss unranked Michigan on Nov. 30, athletic director Ross Bjork told the Columbus Dispatch that he has full confidence in Ryan Day as Buckeyes’ head coach, stating that he has built a strong foundation across his six years leading the program that has allowed them to compete at a high level every season.
“Our program is built to last, and Coach Day has done that,” Bjork said on Dec. 1. “He has put us in a great spot.”
11 days after that ringing endorsement, Ohio State’s first-year athletic director continued that same sentiment, telling 97.1 The Fan’s “The Morning Juice” — hosted by former Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter and Jeff Thitoff — on Thursday that he and Day continue to have a great relationship and the coach has shown all the traits needed to succeed in the head coaching chair in Columbus.
“Coach Day and I have just hit it off so well,” Bjork said after being asked if Day would return to the sidelines in 2025 regardless of CFP performance. “I’ve been really, really impressed. Every single time I’ve talked to him, I’ve learned something. He’s innovative. He recruits at the highest level. He has a great staff.”
Bjork’s unwavering support of Day as Buckeyes’ head coach comes at a time where fan and outside criticism has reached its apex following the team’s fourth straight loss to Michigan, with many questioning his ability — or in some people’s opinions, his lack thereof — to lead a successful and winning program at a flagship program like Ohio State.
Bjork did acknowledge that some “tweaks” will need to be made in the offseason regarding how the program approaches certain things, but he also reminded both those listening and within the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to stay committed to the process, one which — despite the Michigan loss — still has them in reach of delivering on their “natty or bust” mission statement and securing the program’s first national title since 2014 with a four-game run to the championship.
“This whole mentality about – and look, we live it, and we sign up for it – but if you get fixated on the end result and not have the process fully baked every time, you’re going to lose,” Bjork said. “The mindset’s going to lose because you’re only fixated on one thing.
“And so what we have to do is this whole ‘championship or bust’ mentality, you want that as the goal, but it has to be about the process. We have to maybe change some conversations a little bit. I think we need to maybe just approach things a little bit differently.
“But here’s the thing, too – and the reason why we needed to say something after that game – we’re still breathing. We’re still alive. The season’s not over. The book is not closed.
“We have to have confidence. I mean, Ohio State should be confident every single day. We’re Ohio State. But we also have to make sure we stay to our values, and we stick to what we believe in. And so to me, it’s (about) the process as much as it is about the end result, and if the process is right, the end result will take care of itself.”
Regardless of how the process ends for Ohio State this season, Bjork’s consistent praise of Day — who has led Ohio State to a 66-10 record and four College Football Playoff appearances since taking over for Urban Meyer in 2019 — suggests that he is likely headed for a return as OSU head coach s in 2025, that is if he opts to stay.
“Coach Day is awesome,” Bjork said. “He’s great to work with. He totally gets it. He loves being a Buckeye. So we’re going to support him at the highest level.”
