Ryan Day of Ohio State is giving his running backs the authority to select their own head coach.
Longtime running backs coach Tony Alford was poached by OSU’s biggest rival, Michigan. He’s now serving in the same capacity for Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines, and his departure from Columbus won’t go unnoticed.
Alford is considered to be one of the best running backs coaches and recruiters in the country. He had a hand in developing players like Ezekiel Elliott and J.K. Dobbins for the Buckeyes.
Speaking to the media on Monday about the loss of Alford, OSU head coach Ryan Day tried to downplay the significance a bit. He’s already on the hunt to find Alford’s replacement.
Day informed the reporters, “We’re into the process of identifying replacements as we were made aware last week” (h/t On3). “We’re excited about the group we’ve already chosen and will follow through with diligence.” The good news, in my opinion, is that we are not pressured to decide right away based on hiring, the portal, or anything else of that sort.
Day will obviously be the ultimate decision-maker, and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is going to get a massive day, but it’s worth noting that the Buckeyes head coach wants to give his current players some of the input on their next running backs coach. “I talked to the running backs, they’re great, they’re actually gonna be a part of the process. I’d like for a part of the interview process for the running backs to meet the candidates. Obviously, ultimately I’ll make the decision and Chip [Kelly] will be a huge part of it, but the input of the running backs will be important as well,” Day said.
In the era of NIL deals and transfer portal wackiness, it shouldn’t be surprising to hear this strategy from Day. Still, it’s a departure from what most college football fans are used to.
