Ryan Day and the Buckeyeys appear ready to put the offense in new hands.
Ohio State hires billionaire heir as next offensive coordinator originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
According to reports from ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Adam Schefter that surfaced almost simultaneously, the Buckeyes are finalizing a deal to hire Arthur Smith as the program’s next offensive coordinator.
Smith’s résumé is firmly rooted at the NFL level. He previously served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and most recently worked as the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Smith’s offenses have rarely been about flash. Instead, they’ve leaned on balance, control, and an understanding of how to put players in the right situations at the right moments.
For Ohio State, the appeal is obvious. This is a program built on elite talent and enormous expectations, where offensive precision matters just as much as explosiveness. In an expanded College Football Playoff era, small edges and in-game adaptability can decide everything.
MORE: Abella Danger makes her feelings clear on Fernando Mendoza
There’s also a layer of intrigue beyond the field. Smith is the son of the late FedEx founder Fred Smith, and that background has long been associated with his calm, CEO-style approach to leadership. Those who have worked around him often point to preparation, organization, and trust in structure as defining traits.
Ohio State has not yet made the hire official, but with parallel reports from ESPN’s top insiders, the move appears close.
MORE: ESPN analyst says Miami just landed a top ten NFL draft pick in the transfer portal
If finalized, the Buckeyes would be handing their offense to a coach shaped by the NFL, business pedigree, and the pressure that comes with both.
More college sports news:
Category: General Sports
