Ah, offseason. I wanted to take a look at the history of Buckeye HCs, focusing on spurring a discussion on those from Ohio and those coming in from elsewhere.
Why, you ask? Why not? In case you missed it, new HC Ryan Day hails from New Hampshire, and although he did serve under Urban Meyer at Florida in 2005 he had no connections to Ohio prior to coming aboard to replace the departed Tim Beck back in early 2017.
I don't mind where anyone comes from (mostly), but I do remember John Cooper coming in from Arizona State, fresh off a Rose Bowl win over the rival and Bo Schembechler, to replace the departed Earle Bruce. I didn't put any weight at the time into the fact Cooper was not from Ohio, rather Tennessee, but was disappointed in the loss of Coach Bruce (looking back, a change was needed, but his ousting was horribly conducted - another discussion for another time). It was frustrating to see Coop's early teams struggle into the 90's, not to mention those seemingly annual end of year losses (if I digress).
I don't know where or when he said it, but there was a point where Cooper was asked about the rivalry...to which he responded with "it's just another game". And that's where I realized he'd never truly get what Ohio State was all about. For the record, I've made my peace with the 90's and the Cooper years - he rebuilt Ohio State and the Buckeye's return to national prominence, and deserves credit to this day for awakening a sleeping giant. But he never had that Ohio connection, and that used to bother me.
Fast forward through the next generation, and we've been blessed with some native sons at the helm the past near 20 years (and I am including Luke Fickell, who persevered through a very tough time and kept the program together), to present...a brand new Day.
There have been 25 (I count Fickell) head football coaches in Ohio State history. Without going into detail on each individually, more than half (14, including Day) were born outside of the Buckeye state, although a good portion (especially pre-Woody) of them came to Ohio/Ohio State prior to taking the helm. I value the Ohio roots, but understand the college game at its highest level has spread the net far and wide - players and staff alike.
So we're seeing student-athletes come in from all over the country, even from states most of us would probably never even consider a decade ago (Idaho, Hawai'i) while keeping a good emphasis on retaining home talent - and I think Ohio State is better for it. I think the widespread approach to bringing in top coaching talent and staff also bodes well for the program, even at head coach.
Which is where I also welcome/re-affirm coaching talent coming in from outside the Buckeye state, and again to a brand new Day.
What say you, 11W? Do you look beyond where the man comes from, or are Ohio roots a must?
