Ohio State Hires Defensive Backs Coach Kerry Coombs

A fierce competitor joins Ohio State

The Columbus Dispatch and many other media outlets are reporting that Ohio State has now hired defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs. Coombs has coached defensive backs for the Cincinnati Bearcats since 2007, and has worked with some good players there, including eventual NFL draft picks Haruki Nakamura, Mike Mickens, DeAngelo Smith, and Buckeyes transfer Brandon Underwood. The 2008 secondary was a big reason why Cincinnati won its first Big East title.

Here's another reason why hiring Coombs is smart: Before Brian Kelly gave him his first college job in 2007, Coombs was an extremely successful high school coach (he won a state title in 2004) at Cincinnati's Colerain High School. In all, Coombs led Colerain to 10 playoff appearances and seven undefeated regular seasons. Also to be noted, his connections to the high schools in that city have made him a strong recruiter in that talent-rich area. 

Cincinnati should be a major pipeline for Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have had more success in the northern part of the state. Coombs should give them even more recruiting inroads, making the fence that Urban is starting to rebuild around the state even larger.

As a bonus to the hiring of Coombs for his knowledge of the game, as we mentioned above he's a fantastic recruiter. The Cincinnati area has always been a tough place for Ohio State to recruit players, where they mostly go to Notre Dame. 

Now, with not Meyer having played for the Bearcats and earn his bachelor’s degree at UC, Tim Hinton spent six years on Cincinnati’s football coaching staff (2004-09) three of which coincided with Coombs’ stint there (2007-11). That's a lot of Queen City connections, so look for that to have a lot of impact in the near future.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest updates, news and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Bill Sheridan Hired By Ohio State, Urban Meyer

The 9th hire by Meyer

According to multiple reports, (now) former Miami Dolphins assistant Bill Sheridan has been hired, and is now a part of the Ohio State coaching staff under Urban Meyer. Sheridan is the ninth new staff hire, since Meyer has  been made the head coach at Ohio State.

Sheridan will likely be taking the spot of Taver Johnson, former defensive backs coach. Johnson left to coach at Arkansas with former safeties coach Paul Haynes on Jan. 15. Johnson's salary was set at $275,000, before he left to coach at Arkansas.

Sheridan worked under Lloyd Carr at Michigan for three years from 2002-2004, which means he was on the staff for one of the two wins against Ohio State since 2001. He later went on to coach linebackers for the New York Giants, from 2005-2008, which includes a Super Bowl victory in 2007. In 2009, he was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Giants. He was fired at the end of the 2009 season.

For the 2010 and 2011 season, he was the linebackers coach for the Miami dolphins under Tony Sparano. In addition to Michigan and his stint in the NFL, Sheridan has worked for Notre Dame, Michigan State, Army, Cincinnati and Maine. His son, Nick, was a quarterback at Michigan from 2008-2009. Nick competed for the starting job with Steven Threet, but both would end up transferring to other schools.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates, and opinions on Ohio State athletics. 

Ohio State Cornerbacks Coach Taver Johnson Leaving For Arkansas

Taver Johnson headed to Arkansas

According to the Dispatch, Ohio State cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson has said earlier today that he is leaving for Arkansas to become a defensive assistant and also will be the assistant head coach under Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino.

“This is a great opportunity, getting the chance to be an assistant head coach and some of the added duties that will come with that,” Johnson said. “With that said, I love Ohio State. Urban Meyer is an incredible coach, and I really am appreciative of the opportunity coach Jim Tressel gave me (six years ago) to come to a place I’ve always wanted to be a part of.

Johnson, a 1994 graduate of Wittenberg, new OSU coach Meyer, who was hired on November 28th. Also kept from the previous coaching staff were interim head coach Luke Fickell, now defensive coordinator; linebackers coach Mike Vrabel, now defensive line coach; and wide receivers coach Stan Drayton, now running backs coach.

This is a surprise for me personally, as Urban Meyer had decided to keep Johnson on his staff. With Johnson leaving, that might open up another spot, or could make one of the coaches already in place take on more duties. We'll have to see how it plays out, but I'm happy for Taver, as he has produced some very good cornerbacks in his time here, including Malcolm Jenkins. 

Taver will also be re-uniting with former Ohio State coach Paul Haynes. 

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for all of the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Ohio State Hires Kenny Parker From Murray State

Rejoining his former colleagues

According to Football Scoop, Ohio State has hired another strength and conditioning coach that will help in Mickey Mariotti's strength and conditioning program. This time, Meyer and the Buckeyes hired a young and ambitious coach from Murray State named Kenny Parker who, with the Racers, coached the defensive line and was also the strength and conditioning coach.

A lot of you may be wondering where this hire came from exactly, and are probably wondering how Kenny Parker fits in with Mariotti and Urban Meyer.

Well, Parker came to Murray State after spending the previous 10 seasons as a player or coach at Florida. While at UF, he was a part of three SEC Championships and two National Championships. In his most recent role with the Gators, Parker served as a graduate assistant defensive line coach and assistant director of football camps during the 2009 season under Urban Meyer.

Prior to his time as a GA, Parker served two years as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Gators. Parker assisted in the strength, speed and conditioning for football and track. He also developed strength and conditioning programs for players and assisted in the nutritional development of players. Parker joined the Gator coaching staff as a defensive intern. He helped prepare the playbook and other gameday materials, while also assisting the defensive line with on-field conditioning and techniques.

Parker graduated from Florida in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, and a minor in education. He and his wife, Melissa, have one daughter, Kyndal.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates, and opinions on Ohio State athletics. 

Ed Warriner Follows Tim Hinton From Notre Dame To Ohio State

Warriner leaves Notre Dame for OSU

According to the Chicago Tribune and Bill Greene, Ohio State and Urban Meyer have made another hire that followed almost immediately after Tim Hinton's hire. Ed Warriner who is also from Notre Dame and was coaching the offensive line as well as being the running game coordinator. At Ohio State, Warriner will be the offensive line coach once more, taking over for Jim Bollman.

"Assistants Tim Hinton and Ed Warinner officially gone "to pursue other opportunities." Hinton is likely Ohio State-bound, per reports that surfaced late Sunday, and a source said Warinner is destined for Urban Meyer's new staff as well."

As importantly, Warinner turned an offensive line at Notre Dame that was problematic for years into a solid, reliable unit that helped produce 4.82 yards per rush and allowed just 17 sacks in an offense that attempted 473 passes in the 2011 season.

Warriner, a 28-year coaching veteran, has extensive experience coaching within the spread offense, having spent three seasons coordinating the Kansas offense under Mark Mangino. Those three seasons were some of the most successful in Kansas football history, and the Jayhawk offense broke point and yardage records in that time. Following the 2009 season, Warriner was a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association's National Assistant Coach of the Year award. He has also coached offensive lines at Army, Air Force, and Illinois. 

Most recently, Warriner was with Notre Dame. In his first season at Notre Dame, Warinner helped develop three first-time starters on the offensive line and improved the average yards per rush and decreased sacks allowed when compared to 2009. The Irish averaged 4.0 rushing yards per carry, the best rushing average by a Notre Dame team since 2003. Notre Dame's offensive line allowed a sack on only 4.0 percent of the overall pass attempts in 2010 and the 1.54 sacks allowed per game was the fewest by an Irish offensive line since 1998 (0.8 per game).

Over the final six games of the 2010 season, Warinner's offensive line faced defenses that were cumulatively averaging 2.3 sacks per game but the Irish offensive line allowed only five sacks in 202 pass attempts in those six contests

As for Ohio ties, Warriner is a native of Strasburg, Ohio, and also played football and baseball at Mount Union College from 1979-83. He led the team in rushing yards, receptions and scoring while earning his fourth letter in 1983. Warinner also received two letters in baseball at Mount Union.

Tim Hinton Officially Hired As Ohio State Tight Ends Coach

The latest Buckeye hire

According to Bill Greene, Ohio State and Urban Meyer have officially hired Notre Dame's running backs coach, Tim Hinton as an assistant coach/tight ends coach. Tim Hinton entered his 30th year of coaching in 2011, including 16 years at the collegiate level, and second as the Notre Dame running backs coach. He was an assistant coach the last six seasons at Cincinnati and served as the Bearcats' running backs coach in five of those years.

Born April 12, 1960, Hinton earned a bachelor's degree in industrial education from Wilmington in 1982 and received a master's degree in educational policy and leadership from Ohio State in 1987. His wife, Bev, and he have two daughters, Dawn and Drew.

While attending Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio, Hinton launched his coaching career, serving as an assistant coach at Amanda-Clearcreek High School in Amanda, Ohio, from 1978-80. That led to Hinton becoming a student assistant coach at Wilmington in 1981 and then he coached Wilmington's tight ends and wide receivers from 1982-84. Hinton helped his alma mater to two league crowns and a pair of appearances in the NAIA playoffs.

So how does Hinton fit in as a Buckeye?

Hinton's first exposure to major college football came as a graduate assistant at Ohio State from 1985-86. Under head coach Earle Bruce, Hinton was on staff for two bowl game appearances and the 1986 team finished 10-3 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten Conference, earning a share of the Big Ten championship.

Interesting note: Hinton is the one who recruited Taylor Decker to ND. Could Decker follow?

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest updates and news on Ohio State. 

Ohio State Names Zach Smith Wide Receivers Coach

Next to join the Buckeye staff

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has recruited an assistant from his Florida staff with the announcement today that Zach Smith would join his Ohio State coaching staff as a wide receivers coach. Smith was wide receivers and special teams coach for the past year at Temple University, which won nine games this season, including its first bowl win (37-15 over Wyoming in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl) in 32 years.

Smith spent five years as a graduate assistant and quality control assistant for Meyer at Florida, during which time Florida won a pair of national championships while producing some of the best offensive and special teams units in the country. Smith was a special teams quality control coach for three years (2005-07) and an offensive graduate assistant for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He assisted with coaching the UF wide receivers, quarterbacks and special teams during his time in Gainesville.

Smith left Florida to work on Doc Holliday’s staff at Marshall for the 2010 season. He then moved on to Temple when Steve Addazio took over that program this year. He was coach of the wide receivers and special teams at both schools.

Marshall’s receivers totaled 152 catches for 1,824 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2010 and featured all-Conference USA performer Aaron Dobson. Temple’s receivers managed 66 catches for 961 yards and eight touchdowns despite the Owls featuring the seventh-best rushing offense in the country and the top unit in the Mid-American Conference.

Mike Vrabel Retained As Linebackers Coach

In addition to the hire of Everett Withers, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has decided to keep Mike Vrabel on the staff as their linebackers coach. Here's what Urban had to say: 

“I had heard such great things about Mike Vrabel as a player, but the key thing for me was I wanted to talk football with him," Meyer said. “"I wanted to see him recruit, and I wanted to meet his family. I have since spent a lot of time with him, and he has a wonderful family."

“I also spoke to a number of people I know well, who also know Mike very well, including Bill Belichick. Coach Belichick and I had a really good discussion about Mike. While Mike is young, we both agreed that the unique experiences he has had as a player, coupled with the things he has already accomplished as a coach and recruiter for Ohio State, has prepared Mike for this opportunity. I am very pleased he will be on the staff."

Meyer has now named six assistants to his Ohio State staff. In addition to Withers and Vrabel, Luke Fickell will stay on and call plays as co-defensive coordinator, Taver Johnson will handle secondary duties, Stan Drayton will coach the running backs and Tom Herman will handle the quarterbacks while also serving as the offensive coordinator.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest Ohio State news and updates. 

Ohio State Hires North Carolina Interim Head Coach Everett Withers

Withers will be Co-Defensive Coordinator

As we reported to you last Monday, a little over a week later, the rumor that we had told you has become official. North Carolina interim head coach Everett Withers has been hired by Ohio State.

Withers will have the title co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach under Urban Meyer. Withers had even acknowledged the possibility before finally confirming it while speaking to reporters Wednesday. Withers will coach the Tar Heels through their AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl against Missouri on Dec. 26.

Withers was a guest on The David Glenn Show on Wednesday, and confirmed that being a head coach was a goal of his for "at least seven or eight years." Withers appeared to have no trouble putting that goal on hold for the moment considering the opportunities in Columbus.

"At this present time I'm headed to Ohio State to be the assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator," Withers confirmed. "For obvious reasons, to have the opportunity to work on a staff with Coach [Urban] Meyer and to learn and grow with him and what he's starting at Ohio State. It's a great opportunity, a great challenge for me, and I'm looking forward to it."

Withers is expected to share the defensive coordinator duties with Ohio State's current interim head coach, Luke Fickell. Fickell was given the opportunity to stay on staff by Urban Meyer, though he has interviewed for the open head coaching position at Pittsburgh. Withers has had numerous stops as a defensive assistant before arriving in Chapel Hill, notably including stints with Texas and the Tennessee Titans of the NFL.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest updates and news on Ohio State. 

Urban Meyer's Staff To Be Announced January 3rd

Urban has a plan for his staff

Urban Meyer has been relatively quiet on the media front. While he continues to make headlines with the top level recruits that he is nabbing, Meyer hasn't had much conversation with reporters.

That changed on Monday, when Urban sat down with a couple of Buckeye news reporters, and what he told them clears up some questions about the present and future coaching staff. We were able to track down (Thanks Ozone) some of the Q&A's that were recorded there.

Speculation has been swirling about Luke Fickell to Pitt, and about Mike Vrabel being retained or not. Urban cleared a lot of that up, which you'll find out below.

While Meyer doesn't mention who he has in mind for the rest of his staff, it's only a matter of time before the information gets out. I still have high hopes for Studrawa, but with his recent raise, it might be even tougher for the Buckeyes to land the current LSU Coordinator.

Ohio State Targeting Everett Withers For Co-DC?

Is Withers talking with OSU?

Rumors are starting to be put in motion that Urban Meyer and Ohio State are looking at another candidate for defensive coordinator. That person is Everett Withers, the interim head coach at North Carolina. 

This is coming after Mike Stoops to Ohio State was shut down by Stoops himself, claiming that he didn't want the title of co-defensive coordinator. While Luke Fickell hasn't even been announced as the other co-defensive coordinator, all signs point to that being just about true. 

Backing up to Everett being a targeted man for the job, this might be an even better hire than what Stoops would have been. This is Everett's 24th season as a coach and has experience not only at the collegiate, but the pro level as well. Let's take a deeper look into who Everett Withers is after the jump.

Mike Stoops Offered Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Position

Like I had predicted earlier in my coaching staff post, Mike Stoops rumors have been flying around, but here's some solid evidence that Stoops might be on his way back to the Buckeye state.

"Mike Stoops has been offered the co-defensive coordinator position at Ohio State by Urban Meyer. Stoops spent yesterday in Columbus and is currently considering the position."

The assumption is Meyer will want to make the move sooner rather than later. I think it's wise for Urban to hire the man. He has Ohio ties, and put Arizona on the map.

The report did not indicate whether Stoops will accept the job, and says that he's been offered opportunities to become a head coach at a few other undisclosed schools as well.

Then there's the option of Stoops returning to Oklahoma to coach alongside current Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables and under his brother, Bob Stoops.

Mike Stoops spent five seasons at Oklahoma before moving on to take the head coaching position at Arizona in 2004. He spent eight seasons at Arizona, appearing in three bowl games, before being fired this season after getting off to a 1-5 start.