Even in the offseason, Michigan can’t avoid losing to Ohio State.
Based on the coach’s own public words, it’s been thought that Greg Schiano wasn’t long for the defensive coordinator job at Ohio State as first-year head coach Ryan Day looks to revamp the staff on that side of the ball. According to a report from 247Sports.com, the trigger has been pulled by Day on the revamping as Schiano has been informed that he has been relieved of his coordinating duties.
The twist in the coaching plot is that, to replace Schiano, OSU has swiped Greg Mattison from rival Michigan to take over as the Buckeyes’ coordinator per a separate report from another arm of 247Sports.com. The 69-year-old Mattison was U-M’s coordinator from 2011-14 before shifting to the defensive line for the past four seasons.
An official announcement from Ohio State is expected as early as today, per a football program official.
Schiano just completed his third season as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State. After finishing his first two seasons third (14.2 points per game in 2016) and 22nd nationally (19.9 ppg in 2017) in scoring defense, the Buckeyes are currently tied for 51st in giving up 25.5 ppg. They’re also tied for 72st in total defense after giving up 403.4 yards per game.
OSU’s defense had no answers for a Purdue offense that scored 49 points in an October loss that essentially cost the Buckeyes a spot in the College Football Playoff. They also gave up 51 points in an overtime win over Maryland last month.
A year ago, Schiano was set to take over for Butch Jones as the head coach at Tennessee before all hell broke loose in Vols Nation. In February of this year, Schiano was wooed by the New England Patriots before opting to remain at Ohio State.
In addition to Schiano’s reported departure, OSU’s co-defensive coordinator in 2018, Alex Grinch, is leaving to take the coordinator job at Oklahoma. Also, linebackers coach Bill Davis isn’t expected to be retained, although that has yet to be confirmed.
