LOS ANGELES – On Jan. 2, Ryan Day will no longer be Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. Instead he’ll be taking over for the retiring Urban Meyer as head coach, but that doesn’t mean he’ll stop being the mastermind behind the Buckeyes’ high-flying attack.
Day said Saturday that he’s not sure who will be the play caller, but he certainly might keep the role. He also called the plays from the sideline while serving as acting head coach during the first three games – all wins – of 2018.
“It’s something we’re still going to work though and figure that out,” Day said. “I still want to have a heavy hand in the offense. I think the guys on offense are really excited and there’s a lot of energy and positive momentum on our side of the ball. I want to keep that going.”
Being involved with the offense and helping to groom quarterbacks like Dwayne Haskins is what got Day to the position he’s in. He said he feels it’s important to keep that influence going forward, noting that he’ll be involved with the signal callers “a good amount.”
Day’s role certainly won’t be the same, though. He’s going from being upper-level management to the CEO, and it will be a learning process for him as he figures things out each step of the way.
“I think that is the challenge,” he said. “But, again, this has been something that I’ve been kind of preparing my whole life, and how do you really get ready for that without doing it. Again, the preseason, which is a huge part of your season, and the first three games, you walk in those shoes and you feel it and you’re like, ‘OK, I can do this.’
“So go back on those experiences. But, again, these next few months into the spring are going to be really important.”
Day is set to serve as an assistant for Ohio State one more time when the sixth-ranked Buckeyes (12-1) face No. 9 Washington (10-3) in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET in Pasadena, Calif.
