Following the firing of safeties coach Perry Eliano on Monday, Ohio State announced on Wednesday that the role will be filled by one-time Buckeye analyst and former Indiana co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Matt Guerrieri.
Prior to his year at Ohio State in 2022 and ensuing year with the Hoosiers, Guerrieri spent 10 seasons at Duke, starting as a graduate assistant and working his way up to safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator for the Blue Devils alongside current Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
“I do have great respect for Matt,” Knowles said earlier this season. “He’s – I don’t know if I have to say a son to me, I’m not much older, maybe a little brother.”
In Guerrieri’s lone season as Indiana’s co-defensive coordinator, the Hoosiers allowed 29.9 points per game, ranking 98th nationally, and gave up 237.8 yards through the air per contest, ranking 86th.
But during his time with the Blue Devils – specifically when he was coaching safeties from 2015-21 – they finished with three top-50 passing defenses, including the No. 16 pass defense at 179.4 yards in 2017. And in 2018, he was nominated for the Broyles Award, given to the best assistant coach in the country, and was one of three finalists for the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2020.
And while Guerrieri spent just one season with the Buckeyes, he left an impression on several players that are likely looking forward to having his presence back in the building.
“When he was here, that was my guy,” safety Lathan Ransom said earlier this season. “One of the smartest guys I know, and I think he brings a lot of good things. You see how successful he was at Duke. You saw how successful he was here. And to go (to Indiana), I’m honestly really happy for him, but when we get on that field, it’s us against him.”
