Ohio State and coach Ryan Day have agreed to a seven-year contract extension, the varsity introduced Thursday. The brand new deal, which is about to run by way of the 2031 season, bumps Day’s wage to round $12.5 million per season, making him one of many three highest-paid coaches in school soccer. 

“Ohio State Soccer has lengthy been outlined by excellence and, beneath Ryan Day’s management, that custom has not solely continued, however thrived,” Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork stated in an announcement. “As a frontrunner, mentor and coach, Ryan has constantly demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the success and well-being of our gamers, each on and off the sphere. His management has maintained our place of nationwide prominence every year and profitable the 2024 nationwide championship validated his program’s tradition of excellence, integrity, and perseverance.”

Day guided the Buckeyes to a 14-2 document in 2024 capped by a 34-23 win in opposition to Notre Dame within the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship, Ohio State’s first nationwide title for the reason that 2014 season. Ohio State beat SEC energy Tennessee and top-seeded Oregon throughout its playoff run, as effectively. 

The Ohio State boss has received a minimum of 11 video games in every season of his six-year tenure, apart from the COVID-shortened 2020 season when the Buckeyes posted a 7-1 document and made it to the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship. He has two Massive Ten titles to his title and boasts a 70-10 total document with the Buckeyes. 

Previous to changing into head coach, Day served because the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Ohio State’s employees beneath City Meyer from 2017-18. Day was the appearing head coach for the Buckeyes in 2018 when Meyer was positioned on administrative depart and was hand-picked as Meyer’s successor when Meyer stepped down in Dec. 2018. 

Massive present of religion in Day 

Lower than two months in the past, there was loads of noise surrounding Day’s future with the Buckeyes. Following a fourth straight loss to Michigan — this one at dwelling in opposition to an unranked Wolverines squad — that value Ohio State a possibility on the Massive Ten Championship Sport, strain on Day, which had steadily constructed all through the course of Ohio State’s shedding streak to Michigan, reached an all-time excessive.

Followers and pundits alike questioned his job standing. It wasn’t sufficient that Ohio State nonetheless made the Faculty Soccer Playoff — the Buckeyes, with arguably essentially the most proficient roster in your complete nation, needed to stay as much as their potential and ship in crunch time. 

Ship they did. Ohio State cruised by way of its first two playoff video games, dismantling Tennessee and Oregon by a mixed rating of 83-38. A robust, late-game defensive effort handed the Buckeyes one other double-digit win in opposition to Texas within the semifinal spherical, and Ohio State completed all of it with an 11-point win — anchored by a 21-point second quarter — in opposition to Notre Dame within the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship. 

Day’s nationwide title silenced any remaining detractors. Ohio State’s administration made issues official with the brand new deal, reaffirming its religion in Day effectively into the long run. 

Ryan Day wage: The place Ohio State boss ranks amongst high school soccer coaches after contract extension

David Cobb

Ohio State dealing with essential offseason 

Although Ohio State climbed all the way in which to school soccer’s mountaintop in 2024, it enters the offseason with some huge questions. Notably, the Buckeyes have to exchange each of their coordinators. 

Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who spent one season in Columbus, made his return to the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who led the highest protection in school soccer final season, left for a similar place with Massive Ten rival Penn State. 

Whereas Ohio State has but to exchange Knowles, the Buckeyes did promote star huge receivers coach Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator, a title that he held in 2023. Day, given his previous as an offensive coordinator, will virtually actually have some enter on the day-to-day operations, as effectively.  

Ohio State additionally has to determine a brand new offensive line coach after Justin Frye joined the Arizona Cardinals. Frye mentored a pair of seemingly 2025 NFL Draft picks in offensive tackles Donovan Jackson and Josh Simmons. 

On high of the teaching attrition, Ohio State must endure great roster turnover. The Buckeyes are set to lose over 15 starters from the 2024 group, a majority of that are headed to the NFL Draft. That features quarterback Will Howard, who threw for a career-high 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2024. 

They do return a strong core, with standout performers like huge receiver Jeremiah Smith and defensive again Caleb Downs operating it again with Ohio State. Nonetheless, Day and his employees shall be busy figuring out replacements for all of the misplaced expertise.