The Strategy of Success: Ohio State’s Plan for Football Coordinators

Ohio State University’s football program has always been among the nation’s top programs, and its hiring of coaches was part of its winning recipe. Here, we examine the impact of internal promotions versus bringing in outside coordinators, highlighting Chip Kelly and Tom Herman as examples of external hires, and providing another example of an internal hire in Ohio State’s history.

Internal Promotions vs. External Hires

Promoting from Within

Promoting from within can create cultural continuity and player familiarity:

Bill Davis was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2001 by coach Jim Tressel. His long history in the program helped create a defense that played a huge part in the 2002 national championship win by Ohio State.

Luke Fickell was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach in 2011 when Jim Tressel resigned. His familiarity with the program was a huge advantage in a time of transition, although his tenure lasted only briefly.

External Hires:

External hires can bring in fresh ideas and methods to the team:

Tom Herman was hired from Iowa State in 2012 to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. His enforcement of new offensive philosophies was key to the Buckeyes’ national championship in 2014, with which they averaged 45.2 points per game.

Chip Kelly came to Ohio State in 2024 as an offensive coordinator with his high-powered, forward-thinking offense from UCLA and NFL experience. He made a sensational entrance, and the offense ranked the nation in scoring per game at 41.9.

Jim Knowles was brought in from Oklahoma State in 2022 to be Ohio State’s defensive coordinator. His presence was followed by a sudden improvement in defensive performance, which resulted in best-in-the-nation rankings in defense in 2023.

Comparison of Performance

Internal Promotions Team Results:

2002 Season: Ohio State’s defense, coordinated by Bill Davis, was stout, giving up only 14.7 points per game, helping them to their undefeated season and national championship.

2011 Season: With interim acting head coach Luke Fickell (promoted from within), Ohio State finished 6-7, as befitting the tribulations of a transition year.

Team Performance under External Appointments:

2014 Season: Tom Herman’s offense was the game-changer, his high-scoring, dynamic play-calling translating into high-scoring games and the national championship.

Pre-2022: Before Knowles, Ohio State utilized external staff like Greg Schiano (2018-2019) whose tenure there had up-and-down performances but was not equal to Knowles’ level of defensive prowess.

2024 Season: Chip Kelly guided Ohio State’s offense to finish as the number one team in scoring, but his brief one-season tenure left the program requiring a master strategist.

Defense: Bill Davis’ internal promotion in 2001 set the stage for a defense that anchored a championship season, illustrating the value of continuity.

Offense: Herman and Kelly, both hired from outside, significantly enhanced Ohio State’s offense, although their impacts were realized differently due to the length of their tenures.

Cultural and Strategic Fit

Cultural Fit: The promotion of Bill Davis showed the manner in which understanding of the program culture might lead to defense success, especially in a title year.

Strategic Innovation: The outside additions of Herman and Kelly introduced new tactical ideas. Herman’s tactics complemented Ohio State talent, while Kelly’s imaginative play initially transformed the offense but left an opening when he left.

Conclusion

Ohio State has walked a tightrope in the process of hiring coordinators between leveraging internal expertise and outside creativity. Bill Davis’s internal promotion was instrumental in a championship defense, while Tom Herman and Chip Kelly’s outside experience dominated the offense during their stints.
The secret is to balance these strategies so as to be consistent and creative where necessary. Ohio State’s ability to make its hiring philosophy flexible enough to accommodate immediate needs will continue to be a vital part of its quest for football supremacy.