Ohio State hires Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator

The former NFL head coach and play-caller will join Ryan Day's staff

Former NFL head coach Arthur Smith will be Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator. (Photo courtesy of Steelers.com)

COLUMBUS — Ryan Day has tapped former NFL head coach and play-caller Arthur Smith to be Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator, a source confirmed to BAD. The news was first reported by LettermenRow.com.

Smith, 43, was most recently the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator. Prior to that, Smith was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons for three seasons, a job he landed after two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.

This marks Smith’s first job in college football since serving as a defensive intern at Ole Miss in 2010. He was also a graduate assistant at his alma mater, UNC, in 2005. That’s the extent of Smith’s college experience in a coaching career that started 20 years ago. Most of Smith’s coaching experience has been in the NFL, primarily on the offensive side of the ball, though he had early stints as a defensive assistant in Washington and Tennessee.

Smith will be Day’s third outside offensive coordinator hire since electing to give up play-calling duty ahead of the 2024 season. He initially hired Bill O’Brien to call plays in 2024. When O’Brien left that post for the Boston College head coaching job after only a few weeks in Columbus, Day hired Chip Kelly, who helped pilot the OSU offense to a national championship. Smith replaces Brian Hartline, who had a one-year stint as the Buckeyes’ play-caller before accepting the head coaching job at South Florida in December.