Bill O’Brien is set to make a return to college football as the new offensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes. This move comes after a disappointing season for the Buckeyes, culminating in a three-game losing streak to the eventual national champion Michigan Wolverines and a lackluster performance in the Cotton Bowl, where they scored only three points against the Missouri Tigers. In response, head coach Ryan Day decided to relinquish his offensive playcalling duties and strengthen the offensive coaching staff.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the hiring of Bill O’Brien was confirmed on Thursday night. O’Brien brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, working under the legendary Bill Belichick. This marks O’Brien’s second stint with the Patriots, where he held various coaching positions, from offensive assistant to receivers coach and ultimately offensive coordinator.
O’Brien’s coaching journey began in the 1990s and early 2000s as a position coach at Brown, Georgia Tech, and Maryland. He then transitioned to the role of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Duke for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. His success at Duke led to an opportunity with the New England Patriots in 2007.
Sources: Ohio State is set to hire longtime NFL head coach Bill O’Brien as the school’s new offensive coordinator. O’Brien served last season as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator in 2023 and has been the head coach at the Texans and in the Big Ten at Penn State. pic.twitter.com/19e2iXv6oe
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 19, 2024
In 2012, O’Brien took on the challenging role of head coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions, succeeding Joe Paterno during a tumultuous time with heavy NCAA sanctions. Despite the challenges, O’Brien earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in his first season, guiding the team to an 8-4 record.
O’Brien later moved on to become the head coach of the Houston Texans, where he achieved a 52-48 record and led the team to the playoffs four times. However, his tenure with the Texans ended midway through the 2020 season.
In 2021, O’Brien joined the Alabama Crimson Tide as offensive coordinator after Steve Sarkisian left for the head coaching position at Texas. Despite reaching the College Football Playoff National Championship, Alabama fell to the Georgia Bulldogs. Quarterback Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy, but O’Brien faced criticism for the team’s performance, prompting his return to the New England Patriots after a two-year stint in Tuscaloosa.
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