Here at Buckeyes Wire, been going through putting an all-time roster together of former Ohio State players and it’s been a tough nut to crack (pun intended). We started with the offense, then moved over to the defensive side of the ball.
With so many great players to choose from that have worn the scarlet and gray, there are some really, really good players that were in consideration, that could have made the team, but were left off. It’s how things go when you have to choose from the best of the best at a place like Ohio State.
Now that we’ve taken a stab at both sides of the ball with former players, we are now turning our attention to special teams and the coaches that have been on the sideline for the Buckeyes. And with it, we’re taking a little different tact and not picking coaches that did amazing things while on the banks of the Olentangy, but looking at the big picture and pulling guys that went on to do great things at OSU and then beyond.
Unless you know your Ohio State assistant coaching history from pretty far back, some of these may surprise you. If we could pick any of the coaches that used to coach at OSU, here’s what we would come up with as an all-time coaching roster along with the specialists that we’d have taking their direction.
See Ohio State’s all-time offense and all-time defense.
Check out our other College Wire all-time lineups: Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Nebraska / North Carolina / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin
Starting Kicker: Mike Nugent
Mike Nugent was so automatic, that he received a push for the Heisman and was a consensus All-American in 2004. He’s the absolute best to ever kick the ball through the uprights for Ohio State.
Backup Kicker: Lou Groza
I mean, when a kicking award is named after you, you are pretty good. Yeah, he only played on the freshman team at OSU before enlisting in the Army for WWII, but we’re counting it and taking him as a Buckeye.
Starting Punter: Tom Skladany
Good Buckeye Morning Ohio State Fans, especially to Tom Skladany, only 156 Days until That Team Up North! #GoBucks #TheGame pic.twitter.com/VI3kET1h6i
— Tom Adelsberg (@ShhhTAdelsberg) June 24, 2021
Many consider Tom Skladany to be one of the two best punters ever, the other being Ray Guy.
Backup Punter: Tom Tupa
I see your punter and raise you Ohio State punter/QB Tom Tupa pic.twitter.com/kZTerxOlyE
— Jim (@Bigtenman77) January 10, 2020
Tom Tupa could boom the ball and was an All-American his senior season. He was also the starting QB for Ohio State in 1987 and went on to punt and throw touchdown passes in the NFL. He was a “dual-threat” quarterback before it became the way of the position, just in a different way.
Starting Kick Returner: Ted Ginn Jr.
Nobody had more kick return touchdowns than Ginn at Ohio State. There was fast, then there was Ginn fast.
Backup Kick Returner: Ken-Yon Rambo
Rambo never reached his full potential at receiver but was one of the best to ever return kicks at Ohio State. He was fast and elusive. We hear that’s important for a kick returner.
Head Coach 1: Woody Hayes
Woody was responsible for five national titles and 13 Big Ten titles while running the show at Ohio State. He made the Buckeye program one of the tops in the country and kept it there for a long time. No other OSU coach is close when it comes to longevity, national titles, and the number of games won. He has a statue built of him and that usually counts for something.
Offensive Coordinator: Ryan Day
The current head coach has ushered in the most explosive offenses Ohio State has ever seen. But before he was wearing the headset, he was running the show from the press box as offensive coordinator. He’s one of the best offensive minds and an elite play-caller.
Defensive Coordinator: Fred Pagac
Believe it or not, defenses used to rule the day in the 90s, and Ohio State had an attacking and destructive style under Pagac. We don’t know if it would work today, but he’d find a way to disrupt offenses with both college and NFL experience.
Assistant Coach 1: Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson is arguably the best defensive line coach ever. He’s still getting it done today and is one of the main reasons Ohio State keeps getting and producing outstanding defensive linemen, especially on the edge. Penn State made a mistake letting him go to Columbus where he’s only gotten better with age.
Assistant Coach 2: Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel took his playing career and turned it into being a fantastic coach. First on the sidelines at Ohio State, and is now in the NFL making a name for himself.
Assistant Coach 3: Lou Holtz
Before Holtz won a national title at Notre Dame and directed one of the most storied programs in the history of college football, he prowled the sidelines at Ohio State as an assistant. We’ll take all that experience, motivating speeches, and hardware, and turn him loose.
Assistant Coach 4: Nick Saban
Surprise! Some of you know this, but other younger fans may not. Before Nick Saban was putting a resume together to be the greatest college football coach of all time he was on the sidelines at Ohio State as the defensive backs coach in 1980 and 1981. Need we say more?
Coaches Honorable Mention
Head Coaches
Urban Meyer (1 national title, 7-0 vs. Michigan, 3 Big Ten championships)
Jim Tressel (1 national title, 9-1 vs. Michigan, 6 Big Ten championships)
Paul Brown (first OSU national title, Pro Football Hall of Fame member)
Assistant Coaches
Luke Fickell
Bo Schembechler
Mark Dantonio
Sid Gillman
Jeff Hafley
Kevin Wilson
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.
Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.
