At the time, the addition of Schiano to the Buckeyes’ staff was stunning. This was a man qualified to run a program of his own — if not his own NFL team.
But now that all of this offseason’s head coaching vacancies have filled up and Schiano appears set to return to Columbus for a second season, his presence on the Ohio State staff is no longer simply surprising.
It’s borderline ridiculous.
Of all the coordinators in college football, none is more overqualified for his current role than Schiano. Prior to joining the Buckeyes staff last offseason, the New Jersey native spent 11 seasons as the head coach at Rutgers and two in charge of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
His resume includes multiple Coach of the Year awards and the most successful era of Scarlet Knights football. If Schiano wanted to return to the head coaching ranks at this point, he clearly could. In the past year alone, he’s been linked to openings at Miami (Fla.), Oregon, South Florida and the Miami Dolphins.
And, yet, whether because it wasn’t the right fit for the school or Schiano himself, he remains a member of the Ohio State staff. When he first arrived in Columbus, he admitted there were very few head coaches he’d be willing to work for as an assistant.
“Coach Meyer being at the head of the list,” Schiano noted. “I haven’t been an assistant coach in a long time.”
Now, it appears he’ll be one for a second straight season.
For the Buckeyes, Schiano’s continued presence on staff couldn’t come at a better time. With longtime defensive coordinator Luke Fickell moving on to become the head coach at Cincinnati, Ohio State appears set to make a seamless transition to Schiano taking the reins.
And if this past season has been any indication, the Buckeyes should be in good shape. Despite losing eight starters from a season ago and its former coordinator in Chris Ash, the Ohio State defense somehow managed to improve in 2016.
A year after ranking ninth nationally in total defense, the Buckeyes now rank fourth heading into their Fiesta Bowl clash with Clemson. They’ve also surrendered 14.2 points per game this year, down from 15.1 a year ago.
The biggest difference for the Buckeyes defense, however, has come in the form of an increased emphasis placed on forcing turnovers. After recording 12 picks in 2015, Ohio State has tallied 19 interceptions this season, seven of which it returned for touchdowns — the most of any team in the country.
According to cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs, that’s Schiano’s arrival at work.
“Greg brings his perspective. One of the things he said after he studied our team was we don’t get enough turnovers. We don’t generate enough turnovers,” Coombs said in September. “We spent a lot of time in some turnover circuits in spring practice and in fall camp designed to do that.”
Meyer didn’t dispute the difference his longtime friend has made.
“Greg Schiano certainly does have an impact on this,” Meyer said of his team’s increase in turnover production. “But it’s, obviously, very talented players.”
The good news for Ohio State? Schiano helps in that regard as well. According to 247Sports,he played a part in the recruitment of 4-star safety Jordan Fuller and in securing a commitment from 2017 5-star corner Shaun Wade.
With another year in Columbus, Schiano should only help further stockpile the talent in the Buckeyes secondary. His experience at Rutgers is also an asset in the battleground state of New Jersey, which Michigan has recently dominated.
It also never hurts to have a coach with NFL experience on your staff.
“That’s a big part of recruiting,” Meyer said. “That’s a big part of just instantaneous respect.”
Whether on the field or the recruiting trail, it’s tough to truly measure the value Schiano has added at Ohio State. Before each game, he stands in front of his colleagues and takes them through what the upcoming opposing head coach is likely thinking.
It shouldn’t be long until he reprises that role for real.
While Meyer typically asks for a two-year commitment from his assistants, many figured Schiano would be an exception. Not only was he overqualified, but his contract was exit-friendly.
“I wouldn’t read into that,” Schiano said of the one-year contract he signed with the Buckeyes. “It’s more of a business thing for me.”
An NFL team could come calling, but for now, Schiano’s future appears to be at the college level. At the moment, all signs point to him returning to Ohio State for a second season.
It remains as surprising now as it was 12 months ago.
But now that all of this offseason’s head coaching vacancies have filled up and Schiano appears set to return to Columbus for a second season, his presence on the Ohio State staff is no longer simply surprising.
It’s borderline ridiculous.
Of all the coordinators in college football, none is more overqualified for his current role than Schiano. Prior to joining the Buckeyes staff last offseason, the New Jersey native spent 11 seasons as the head coach at Rutgers and two in charge of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
His resume includes multiple Coach of the Year awards and the most successful era of Scarlet Knights football. If Schiano wanted to return to the head coaching ranks at this point, he clearly could. In the past year alone, he’s been linked to openings at Miami (Fla.), Oregon, South Florida and the Miami Dolphins.
And, yet, whether because it wasn’t the right fit for the school or Schiano himself, he remains a member of the Ohio State staff. When he first arrived in Columbus, he admitted there were very few head coaches he’d be willing to work for as an assistant.
“Coach Meyer being at the head of the list,” Schiano noted. “I haven’t been an assistant coach in a long time.”
Now, it appears he’ll be one for a second straight season.
For the Buckeyes, Schiano’s continued presence on staff couldn’t come at a better time. With longtime defensive coordinator Luke Fickell moving on to become the head coach at Cincinnati, Ohio State appears set to make a seamless transition to Schiano taking the reins.
And if this past season has been any indication, the Buckeyes should be in good shape. Despite losing eight starters from a season ago and its former coordinator in Chris Ash, the Ohio State defense somehow managed to improve in 2016.
A year after ranking ninth nationally in total defense, the Buckeyes now rank fourth heading into their Fiesta Bowl clash with Clemson. They’ve also surrendered 14.2 points per game this year, down from 15.1 a year ago.
The biggest difference for the Buckeyes defense, however, has come in the form of an increased emphasis placed on forcing turnovers. After recording 12 picks in 2015, Ohio State has tallied 19 interceptions this season, seven of which it returned for touchdowns — the most of any team in the country.
According to cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs, that’s Schiano’s arrival at work.
“Greg brings his perspective. One of the things he said after he studied our team was we don’t get enough turnovers. We don’t generate enough turnovers,” Coombs said in September. “We spent a lot of time in some turnover circuits in spring practice and in fall camp designed to do that.”
Meyer didn’t dispute the difference his longtime friend has made.
“Greg Schiano certainly does have an impact on this,” Meyer said of his team’s increase in turnover production. “But it’s, obviously, very talented players.”
The good news for Ohio State? Schiano helps in that regard as well. According to 247Sports,he played a part in the recruitment of 4-star safety Jordan Fuller and in securing a commitment from 2017 5-star corner Shaun Wade.
With another year in Columbus, Schiano should only help further stockpile the talent in the Buckeyes secondary. His experience at Rutgers is also an asset in the battleground state of New Jersey, which Michigan has recently dominated.
It also never hurts to have a coach with NFL experience on your staff.
“That’s a big part of recruiting,” Meyer said. “That’s a big part of just instantaneous respect.”
Whether on the field or the recruiting trail, it’s tough to truly measure the value Schiano has added at Ohio State. Before each game, he stands in front of his colleagues and takes them through what the upcoming opposing head coach is likely thinking.
It shouldn’t be long until he reprises that role for real.
While Meyer typically asks for a two-year commitment from his assistants, many figured Schiano would be an exception. Not only was he overqualified, but his contract was exit-friendly.
“I wouldn’t read into that,” Schiano said of the one-year contract he signed with the Buckeyes. “It’s more of a business thing for me.”
An NFL team could come calling, but for now, Schiano’s future appears to be at the college level. At the moment, all signs point to him returning to Ohio State for a second season.
It remains as surprising now as it was 12 months ago.
