Greg Schiano Expected To Accept Ohio State Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator Role

The Ohio State Buckeyes are likely to name former Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Greg Schiano as their next associate head coach/defensive coordinator, per Adam Schefter of ESPN:

Former Bucs HC Greg Schiano expected to accept Assoc HC/DC at Ohio State, per source; will replace former OSU DC Chris Ash, new Rutgers HC.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 11, 2015

The hiring creates an interesting full circle after Chris Ash's departure to Rutgers, as Schiano rose into the national spotlight during his coaching stint with the Scarlet Knights from 2001-11.

Expected to work closely with the current Buckeyes defensive brain trust of linebackers coach/defensive coordinator Luke Fickell and cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs, Schiano will bring plenty of an experience and a track record as a fine recruiter (with less-than-ideal constraints at Rutgers) to Ohio State's staff.

Schiano was linked to numerous head coaching jobs this offseason, with rumblings connecting him to Miami, USC and Florida. He served as Miami's defensive coordinator from 1999-2000, following defensive staff stints with Penn State and the NFL's Chicago Bears. 

His most recent coaching job ended abruptly, as he was fired by the Tampa Bay Bucs after posting an 11-21 record from 2012-13. He's been out of coaching ever since, but he star has risen over the past several weeks with teams on the lookout for a defensive mind with the acumen and track record that Schiano possesses.

Schiano, 49, completely turned Rutgers' program around during his decade-plus stint in New Jersey. Schiano's tenure-closing stretch of six bowl games in seven seasons is the best such streak in program history.