Ohio State’s only new defensive assistant coach will be calling the shots for the Buckeyes’ defense next season.
Ryan Day made that clear on Wednesday, when he said Kerry Coombs will have the “final say” as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator while Greg Mattison’s title will remain co-defensive coordinator.
That’s not to say that Coombs will be looking to make major changes, though.
Ohio State finished the 2019 season ranked No. 1 nationally in yards allowed per game (259.7) and yards allowed per play (4.13) and fourth in points allowed per game (13.7), so Coombs recognizes that the Buckeyes’ returning defensive assistants – Mattison, defensive line coach Larry Johnson, linebackers coach Al Washington and assistant secondary coach Matt Barnes – knew what they were doing.