Zach Smith Named Wide Receivers Coach
Urban Meyer has named Zach Smith, the grandson of Earle Bruce, as his wide receivers coach. Smith comes to Ohio State from Temple where he served for one year as wide receivers and special teams coach for an Owls team that won nine games, including its first bowl win in 32 years. The Dublin Coffman grad graduated from Florida and worked for five seasons with Meyer in Gainesville, first as a graduate assistant and then as a quality control assistant.
"Zach Smith has already coached with me for five seasons, and so I know what a quality coach he is," Meyer said. "He knows my system inside and out and he teaches the system the way I want it to be taught. He has coached and taught some great players already, like Percy Harvin, Aaron Hernandez and Louis Murphy."
Smith and his wife Courtney, a Thomas Worthington graduate, are excited to return home:
"It is really, really a dream come true," Smith said Wednesday evening. "I grew up watching Ohio State, my Grandfather coached here and I always dreamt of doing it, too."
"Plus I have an opportunity to work with Coach Meyer again. I was able to spend five years on his staff at Florida, and now working with him again is another dream come true for me. It’s like two dreams coming true. I’m really excited, and it is wonderful to be back home."
Smith becomes the 7th assistant on Meyer's Ohio State staff, joining Everett Withers, Luke Fickell, Mike Vrabel, Taver Johnson, Stan Drayton and Tom Herman.
Comments
My biggest concern has been the o-line coach. Any word on who's going to coach them?
"Did you push yourself to be great today? If you didn't do it you lost a day. We ain't got many days to lose. We're going to push your a$$ like its never been pushed because what you've got in you were going to find out" UFM
Not Bollman, which is a huge net win regardless of who formally gets the gig.
Amen. Our line has under performed for years. I'm hoping for a good coach.
"Did you push yourself to be great today? If you didn't do it you lost a day. We ain't got many days to lose. We're going to push your a$$ like its never been pushed because what you've got in you were going to find out" UFM
Exactly. It's almost to the point where I'm not even sweating the hire, knowing we have an OC in place and Meyer won't bring on a dud for the OL.
This is the mindset that berthed the concept of walrusball. Hiring an actual walrus that looked like Bollman would not only - at worst - be the same, it might be better and it would definitely be more entertaining.
That said, I hope Ohio State doesn't hire a real walrus. Maybe.
+1 billion.
they can bring in a monkey and it would be an improvement!
I'LL DO IT! Let ME have them -- D-Lines across the B1G will be wetting themselves by game 3...
Whoever Urban hires could still be preparing for a bowl game. Plus, it seems like Urban is teasing us by giving us one piece of good news each day. :-D I guess we know the O Line coach will NOT be Jim Turner.
So, Stan Drayton going back to being the RB's coach? Maybe I missed that, so sorry if I am asking a dumb one :)
Buckeye born and bred. Buckeye til I'm dead.
Yes, he will be coaching RBs.
So with two more spots available, my guess is an OL coach and a Special Teams coach? OL coach probably coaches TEs too? Thoughts?
What's the NCAA limit on the number of coaches allowed? Nine? If so they're already at eight according to the AD website.
#fistpumpgobuckeyes
I thought it was 10, including the head coach.
9 assistants.
I believe Urban prides himself on coaching special teams.
It would probably help the recruiting of Dodson and Diamond to have an o-line coach.
"Did you push yourself to be great today? If you didn't do it you lost a day. We ain't got many days to lose. We're going to push your a$$ like its never been pushed because what you've got in you were going to find out" UFM
Very true, and I had not thought of that. I am anxious about scoring some OTs, and I did not even consider how remote the chance is of landing a big time recruit with no position coach in place. Who are the leading candidates???
Respectfully,
Larryp713
How similar is the staff he is assembling to the one he had at Florida in '06? Seems pretty similar. And it speaks volumes about Meyer as a head coach, boss, and man that these guys are reuniting with him.
"We have a quarterback, obviously, that's kind of ridiculous running the ball." - Urban Meyer
Is it possible Urban is waiting for the LSU o-line coach or is that a done deal that he stays at LSU?
There are people still hopeful that is the case, but I feel like he's a long shot.
WHo is going to coach the A.D.?
Chip Smith
Dr. Gee, as long as Gene Smith doesn't fire him first.
One thing I find striking is the average age of the coaching staff Meyer is putting together.
Looks like Urban is the only one in his forties. Everyone else appears to be in their thirties. Not sure of the implications of that. Will be interesting to see if it translates into a more jack-up atmosphere on the field and in the locker room.
#fistpumpgobuckeyes
Withers is in his 40s. Just looks young. I do like the youth (and the color).
Can you explain?
I don't always take names when I kick ass but when I do, they most often belong to a Wolverine.
I'm not sure how polite this is to say, but having minorities on staff helps with recruiting.
It's common sense. People who come from similar backgrounds can sometimes relate to one another better, which == better relationships which == easier recruiting
That's what I thought you meant but I did not want to imply that. I don't think you are wrong but I hate that the world is like this. Vocalizing that belief saddens me because we sound more like Alabamians every time I hear a statement like that. It came up when Darrel Hazel went to Kent and now this. I judge a man, and I am sure you do too, based on his merits and his work ethic, nothing more. I was raised in the country and had very minimal contact with ethnic diversity. My father (White man) had a buddy that lived locally that he served with in the Air Force (Not a white man) and he came over to the house every Sunday with members of our church to play basketball. I never knew racial tension, or racial motivation until I ended up in the south and it was pushed in my face and and down my throat from both sides. The longer we dwell on that, the longer it takes to unite. This topic is our milder, middle east. When do we bury the separation? Anyhow, not fussing, just talking about it. You are not incorrect.
I don't always take names when I kick ass but when I do, they most often belong to a Wolverine.
A diverse staff in many ways is a good thing.
vacuuming sucks
There is all kinds of educational research that supports that.
I agree. Wasn't quite what I was commenting on but you are absolutely right. So was Jason in his assesment.
I don't always take names when I kick ass but when I do, they most often belong to a Wolverine.
I did a rough calc (took a bit of guessing, particularly with Smith) and it's around 39-40.
Pretty ridiculous.
Interesting. That link says Withers is the Assistant Head Coach & Co-Defensive Coordinator and Fickell is Co-Defensive Coordinator. Is this correct or did somebody over at the athletic dept. beef the dog when updating the site?
"I 've got an El Camino full of rampage"-- Sterling Archer, codename: Duchess
This is correct, how it has been reported so far. I'm sure Fickell found out before yesterday.
Great hire!
How awesome is that for Smith?! Tell me he's not fired up. Really like this hire.
I know there's a game saturday, and my ass will be there.
Agreed. He really is coming home.
Considering how successful passing makes stacking the line against the run impossible, said monkey will be just fine. On the youtube channel "ourhonordefend" they post a lot of good video from the past. One was OSU and UCLA with Archie and company. What I noticed was the surge of the offensive line. My comment was Beanie would have had 2000 yards behind that line. When there isn't 8 or even 9 in the box, and the QB is not going to change Dave, the new scheme will put a stop to it (stacking every down but 3rd and long).
Nice. Look for the WR's to make some strides as a group. MUCH NEEDED STRIDES.
vacuuming sucks
I think a couple people have mentioned it already, but who is rumored to take over Special Teams? If Tress taught me one thing, it's the imprtance of a solid ST. Is Urban really going to take that on himself, as someone suggested above?
Urban places a huge importance on ST. I'd look for him to handle it.
Two things:
Grandson or Earl Bruce?Coffman and TWHS grad?wut?
EDIT: nm, I'm illiterate.
Banned from ATO since June 3rd 2PMish PST
Perfect fit, perfect candidate imho, I really like the guy and what he can offer OSU. It makes the most sense to get Smith.