Former NFL and Big Ten Head Coach Bill O’Brien Joins Ohio State as Offensive Coordinator
Ohio State has made a major addition to its coaching staff, hiring former NFL and Big Ten head coach Bill O’Brien as its new offensive coordinator. O’Brien, who most recently served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the New England Patriots, brings three decades of coaching experience to the Buckeyes.
O’Brien’s coaching journey has been a storied one, with successful stints at both the NFL and collegiate levels. Before joining the Patriots in 2023, he spent two years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, where he mentored Bryce Young to a Heisman Trophy win in 2021.
With a coaching history that spans over 30 years, O’Brien has held various positions at different teams. He started his coaching career as a tight ends coach at Brown in 1993 before moving on to become an inside linebackers coach the following year. He then spent several years at Georgia Tech, first as a graduate assistant and later as a running backs coach and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
O’Brien’s time with the New England Patriots from 2007-2011 was particularly successful, as the team’s offenses consistently ranked among the league’s best. In 2011, he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach when the Patriots won the AFC championship and made it to Super Bowl XLVI.
In 2012, O’Brien took on the challenge of being the head coach at Penn State despite NCAA sanctions against the program. Despite the adversity, he led the team to a 15-9 record over two seasons. He then moved on to become the head coach of the Houston Texans in 2014, where he achieved four AFC South titles in six seasons before being fired in 2020.
Now, O’Brien is set to bring his wealth of experience to Ohio State. It is expected that he will take on the role of a “head coach for the offense,” similar to what Jim Knowles does for the Buckeyes’ defense. This means that O’Brien will have control over offensive play-calling, allowing head coach Ryan Day to focus on a CEO role after calling offensive plays himself for the past five years.
In addition to his play-calling duties, O’Brien will also have a say in the construction of the rest of the offensive staff. This could potentially lead to changes in the coaching lineup on the offensive side of the ball. While Brian Hartline is expected to remain on staff as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, it is unlikely that Corey Dennis will continue as the quarterbacks coach.
O’Brien’s hiring is part of Ohio State’s efforts to revamp its coaching staff for the 2024 season. He joins Matt Guerrieri, who replaced Perry Eliano as safeties coach. The Buckeyes still have one more vacancy on their coaching staff, which is expected to be filled by another defensive assistant, possibly a second defensive line coach.
With O’Brien’s extensive coaching background and proven track record, Ohio State is hoping that he can bring a new level of success to their offense. As the Buckeyes prepare for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on O’Brien and his ability to maximize the potential of their talented roster.
