Could Keenan Bailey be Ohio State's next offensive coordinator?
The tight ends coach and co-OC is stepping up into a larger role amid the Buckeyes' offensive shuffle, and could position himself to be the next play-caller.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Keenan Bailey joked this week that, when asked for a film cut-up for Ohio State’s upcoming College Football Playoff game against Miami, he responded with a question.
“For which position group?”
Bailey has worn a lot of hats for Ohio State since joining the staff while still in college at Notre Dame back in 2016. He’s been an intern, working with running backs and receivers. He moved up to a quality control gig and spent some time with the quarterbacks. He then became a special assistant to the head coach and spent time in the offensive line room. Before the 2023 season, he was promoted to tight ends coach. Last year, he was given a co-coordinator title in addition to his positional duties.
For a brief period, a few weeks ago, while offensive coordinator and receivers coach Brian Hartline was away getting a lay of the land as the new head coach at South Florida, Bailey was double-dipping as the tight ends and receivers coach back in Columbus.
“It’s been fun,” Bailey said Monday,” but super busy.”
Bailey is back with his tight ends now. Hartline is back from Florida, working with the receivers, but with play-calling duties taken off his plate as he tries to balance two jobs. Bailey insisted that, while some things have changed — for instance, head coach Ryan Day is calling plays in the playoff — much of the offensive staff’s process remains the same. And yet, it’s evident that Bailey — who, at 30 years old, is among the youngest full-time position coaches in major college football — has increased responsibility in offensive game-planning as Ohio State attempts to win back-to-back national championships for the first time in program history.
Another change? Hartline, since he’s no longer calling plays, is moving back down to the field. Bailey, who’s been on the field all season, is moving up to the coaches’ box to “help organizationally,” according to Day.
If this works, there’s at least some chance that Ohio State’s next offensive coordinator is already in the building, and that it could be Bailey.
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