Ryan Day Spends $15.3M to Keep Ohio State’s Coaching Power

Heading into the 2026 college football season, Ryan Day faces a new challenge at Ohio State Buckeyes football. His coaching staff looks very different from previous years, mixing familiar faces with several new additions.

That level of change can bring uncertainty, but the Buckeyes are responding with a massive financial commitment.

According to reports, Ohio State will spend $15.3 million on assistant coach salaries in 2026, the highest total in program history. The move signals the school’s determination to keep elite coaching talent in Columbus while preventing other programs—or the NFL—from poaching key staff members.

The new figure represents a $3.5 million increase from the $11.775 million allocated to assistants in 2025.

Matt Patricia Becomes the Highest-Paid Assistant

The biggest investment centers on defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Ohio State rewarded him with a contract extension worth $11.45 million, locking him in through the next few seasons.

Patricia will earn $3.75 million in 2026, with his salary rising to $3.85 million in both 2027 and 2028. That figure now surpasses the $3.1 million earned by Jim Knowles at Tennessee Volunteers football, making Patricia the highest-paid assistant coach in college football.

The raise comes after a dominant defensive campaign. In 2025, Ohio State led the nation in both scoring defense and total defense, surrendering just 9.3 points per game.

Several stars from that unit—such as Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, and Arvell Reese—are now headed to the NFL draft. Athletic director Ross Bjork admitted there were tense moments while trying to keep Patricia from returning to the NFL.

Arthur Smith Takes Over the Offense

On the offensive side, Ohio State made another notable move by hiring veteran coach Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. Smith, who spent 17 years in the NFL, will earn $1.5 million in 2026, with his salary rising to $2 million in 2027.

Smith replaces longtime Buckeyes assistant Brian Hartline, a respected figure within the program. Bringing in an NFL mind could reshape the Buckeyes’ offensive approach, potentially blending pro-style concepts with Ohio State’s traditionally explosive system.

For Day, the hire is both strategic and somewhat risky. Smith’s extensive professional experience could help prepare players for the NFL, but success will depend on how quickly his system clicks with Ohio State’s roster.

Raises and Promotions Across the Staff

The Buckeyes didn’t stop with their coordinators. Several assistants also received new contracts and significant raises.

• Keenan Bailey (co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach): $1 million in 2026, rising to $1.1 million in 2027
• James Laurinaitis (linebackers coach): $900,000 after a major raise
• Billy Fessler (quarterbacks coach): $750,000
• Carlos Locklyn (running backs coach): $700,000

Bailey’s rise is particularly notable. After joining the program as an intern under Urban Meyer in 2016, he steadily climbed the ladder. Known internally as one of the hardest workers on staff, Bailey eventually became tight ends coach in 2023 and earned a promotion to co-offensive coordinator in 2025.

Other staff members also saw salary bumps. Co-defensive coordinator Tim Walton will make $1.8 million, while assistants Matt Guerrieri and Tyler Bowden will each earn $1 million.

The Chip Kelly Lesson Still Lingers

Part of Ohio State’s aggressive spending strategy may stem from a painful experience involving former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.

Kelly had signed a deal worth roughly $6 million over three years with the Buckeyes. However, after Ohio State captured a national championship, the Las Vegas Raiders offered him a deal to become their offensive coordinator.

The NFL contract included a $6 million base salary, making him the highest-paid coordinator in the league and prompting his departure from Columbus.

The move left Ohio State scrambling to replace a key strategist and served as a reminder of how quickly top coaches can be lured away.

Ohio State’s record-setting $15.3 million investment in assistant coaches reflects a larger trend across college football: elite programs must spend aggressively to stay competitive. For Ryan Day, the strategy is about stability as much as success.

After losing high-profile staff members in the past, Day appears determined not to repeat that mistake. By locking in key coaches and rewarding rising assistants, the Buckeyes are betting that continuity—and top-tier coaching—will keep them firmly in the national title conversation for years to come.

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