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Why did Chip Kelly leave UCLA for Ohio State? Explaining head coach to assistant move

Published

11 months ago

January 20, 2025

Why did Chip Kelly leave UCLA for Ohio State? Explaining head coach to assistant move

Ohio State football and coach Ryan Day made a coaching hire splash in the offseason, when it hired former UCLA coach Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator.

It was an interesting move for Kelly, who decided he’d rather be the offensive coordinator at Ohio State than the head coach at UCLA, a position he held from 2018-23.

Day and Kelly have history, which made the move make sense, as Kelly was Day’s offensive coordinator when Day was New Hampshire’s quarterback from 1998-2001. Day was also the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers when Kelly was an NFL head coach.

Day’s first coaching job as New Hampshire’s tight ends coach in 2002 was also under Kelly’s offense.

Kelly, who won three Pac-12 championships and led Oregon to the 2011 national championship, is among the most experienced offensive minds in all of college football.

Here’s why Kelly left UCLA for Ohio State ahead of the 2024-25 season:

Why did Chip Kelly leave UCLA for Ohio State?

Kelly explained his decision to move from UCLA head coach to assistant at Ohio State in his first spring with the Buckeyes in March.

Kelly, who hadn’t been an assistant being the offensive coordinator at Oregon in 2008, coached UCLA’s quarterbacks for the Bruins’ LA Bowl matchup with Boise State, after Ryan Gunderson left to be the offensive coordinator at Oregon State.

He said being a position coach reinvigorated his love for football.

“I actually coached the quarterbacks for the bowl game, and I just started to think, like I hadn’t actually coached a position since 2008,” Kelly told reporters in his introductory press conference. “I think my wife remarked, she was like, ‘I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time.’ And, to me, the best part of football is football. And so, you got to do football, and not do some of the things involved with the head coaching deal.”

Kelly then said he started looking into possible opportunities to be an assistant coach again.

“So I started to look into, ‘Is there an opportunity?’” Kelly said. “And it would have had to been the right spot to go somewhere and just coach a position again and be back with that group.”

Kelly has been the head coach at Oregon and UCLA, and also the NFL’s Eagles and 49ers since he last stint as an assistant.

Of course, it would’ve taken one of the top assistant roles in college football to likely lure Kelly away from UCLA, which Ohio State provided. It’s unclear what some of the things with head coaching were that turned Kelly away from the Bruins, however, with the current age of college football in recruiting, name, image and likeness and also leading UCLA into a new conference, it likely took a toll on Kelly’s time.

Kelly said being a head coach in the current era of college football requires being a “CEO.”

“I just want to be happy. And I’m really happy coaching the position,” Kelly said. “Really happy to be at this place. It would have taken a special place for me to leave UCLA, because I love those players and I love that coaching staff, but to be here with Ryan, had a great relationship, I’ve known Ryan since he was a little kid. So, I think a lot of things just fell into place that way.”

Kelly took the job that was previously filled by Bill O’Brien during the offseason, but O’Brien never actually coached the Buckeyes as he turned around and took the head coaching position at Boston College, leaving the opportunity open for Kelly.

“Sometimes I do a lot of things other people don’t do,” Kelly said with a laugh. “I don’t know if that’s right or wrong.”

Chip Kelly contract

According to USA TODAY’s assistant coaches’ salary database, Kelly is the eighth-highest paid assistant in college football, making $2 million this year.

He also can make up to $940,000 in bonuses.

Chip Kelly buyout

Ohio State paid UCLA $1.5 million to hire him as offensive coordinator, according to USA TODAY’s salary database. Ohio State also paid an undetermined amount to reduce the tax impact on Kelly.

Kelly signed a contract extension with the Bruins in 2023, which would’ve paid him $6.1 million in 2024.

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Ohio State men’s basketball fights back in 89-88 double OT win over West Virginia

Published

5 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Ohio State men’s basketball fights back in 89-88 double OT win over West Virginia

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio State’s game-winning play over West Virginia in the second overtime period Saturday night was simple: give the ball to Bruce Thornton and get out of his way.

The result was an 89-88 double overtime win in the Cleveland Hoops Showdown at Rocket Arena.

It took so much to get to this moment.

The Buckeyes did all they could in regulation to overcome a 14-point deficit, while awaiting their top player in Thornton to come through.

His teammates did the dirty work to keep them in the game. From their defense creating transition points, matching the Mountaineers’ physical brand of ball.

Once extra time came after the first 40 minutes expired, Thornton took care of the rest in the two overtime periods.

He delivered bucket after another.

None more important than the final one.

A tightly covered Thornton took it down to the top of the key before finding a mismatch and looking to take it to the hole. A defender cut off his path, however, forcing Thornton to operate elsewhere in the paint.

Thornton used his pivot foot wisely before finding an opening for a fadeaway jumper and knocking it down.

Twelve of his 21 points came in the overtime periods.

Ohio State fought to the end and earned a win over a hard-nosed Big 12 opponent.

Center Christoph Tilly did his best to limit the Mountaineers’ big men, while adding 14 points and 11 boards of his own.

Freshman big man Amare Bynum was a pivotal spark off the bench with 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.

Point guard John Mobley Jr. finished with 17 points and delivered the 3-point shot in the final seconds of the second half to give them their first lead since the 9:00 mark of the first half.

This story will be updated.

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Is Ohio State football playing today? What’s next for Buckeyes in playoff schedule | Sporting News

Published

17 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Is Ohio State football playing today? What’s next for Buckeyes in playoff schedule | Sporting News

It’s a college football Saturday, but Dec. 13 is just a little bit different.

Ohio State and all its other College Football Playoff competitors will be on the couch.

The Army-Navy game highlights the day.

There’s also the first bowl game, the LA Bowl between Boise State and Washington.

And the FCS Playoffs roll on, as well.

Is Ohio State playing today?

No, Ohio State isn’t playing on Saturday, Dec. 13.

The CFP isn’t underway, and the Buckeyes have a bye in that even when it gets started.

When is Ohio State’s next game?

Ohio State won’t play again until Dec. 31.

That’ll be the Cotton Bowl.

They don’t know their opponent yet, either. It’ll depend on the CFP opening round matchup between Miami and Texas A&M.

MORE: Donovan Mitchell ties Jayson Tatum on an NBA record list

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No. 2 Ohio State Wins Top 10 Battle over No. 9 Wolfpack, 26-10 | Ohio State

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

No. 2 Ohio State Wins Top 10 Battle over No. 9 Wolfpack, 26-10 | Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio — No. 2 Ohio State (8-0) remained undefeated with a 26-10 win over visiting No. 9 NC State (5-3) Friday at the Covelli Center.

How it Happened

125 – (1) Vincent Robinson (NCST) def. Brendan McCrone (OSU), MD, 12-3

Robinson opened the scoring with a takedown followed by a McCrone escape to send the bout to the second with NC State up 3-1. McCrone chose top to open the second after Robinson deferred choice. Robinson got the reversal to lead 5-2 after a McCrone escape. Robinson added a takedown to lead 8-2 after five minutes. Starting neutral, Robinson made it 11-2 with a takedown. McCrone escaped but with a point for riding time, Robinson won by major decision, 12-3.

133 – (2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. Zach Redding (NCST), D, 7-1

After two minutes, Davino scored the opening takedown for a 3-0 lead to go to the second. Davino chose bottom to start the second and quickly escaped for a 4-0 lead. Davino added a late takedown to lead 7-0 after two periods. Redding escaped to start the third to make it 7-1 Buckeyes. That’s the way if ended for a Davino win by decision, 7-1.

141 – (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (6) Ryan Jack (NCST), TF, 21-6

Mendez went on top 3-1 with a takedown and Jack escape. Mendez added another takedown on the edge of the mat to finish the period up 6-1. Mendez added three takedowns quickly to jump to a 15-4 advantage. Another pair of takedowns ended the match for a Mendez win by technical fall, 21-6.

149 – (6) Ethan Stiles (OSU) def. (7) Koy Buesgens (NCST), D, 4-3

There was no scoring in the opening the period. Stiles chose bottom to open the second and took the 1-0 lead with an escape for the only points of the middle period. Buesgens evened the bout at 1-all with an escape to open the third. Stiles was awarded a takedown that was challenged by NC State but upheld after video review for a 4-1 lead for the Buckeyes. Buesgens scored a late reversal but Stiles held on for a 4-3 win by decision.

157 – (4) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (11) Jackson Arrington (NCST), MD, 9-1

Cannon struck first with a late takedown for a 3-0 lead. Cannon chose bottom to start the second after Arrington deferred. Cannon scored a reversal for a 5-0 advantage after five minutes. The third period started neutral before a Cannon takedown made it 8-0. Arrington earned an escape but with a point for riding time, Cannon got the win by major decision, 9-1.

165 – (19) Will Denny (NCST) def. (11) Paddy Gallagher (OSU), SV-1, 6-5

Denny got on the board first with a takedown at the edge of the mat. Gallagher escaped to make it 3-1 Wolfpack at the end of the opening period. Gallagher closed the gap with an escape early in the second before taking the lead with a takedown to make it 5-4 after a Denny escape. The third started with Denny choosing bottom. He tied it at 5-all with an escape. The match then went to sudden victory. Denny got the win by decision, 6-5 when Gallagher was called for stalling.

174 – (5) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (3) Matthew Singleton (NCST), D, 8-4

Neither wrestler scored in the opening three minutes. Kharchla got the reversal for the first points of the match. Singleton then escaped to make it 2-1 Buckeyes. Kharchla scored a takedown to make it 5-2 after a Singleton escape. Singleton chose bottom to start the third and escaped to cut it to 5-3. Kharchla quickly added a takedown for an 8-4 advantage and a win by decision.

At 174, No. 5 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) earns an 8–4 decision over No. 3 Matthew Singleton (North Carolina State). pic.twitter.com/Zz1SBQeaIT

— Saturday Night Lights (@WrestlingSNL) December 13, 2025

184 – (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. Don Cates (NCST), MD, 12-1

Fishback opened the scoring with a takedown at the edge of the circle. Cates escaped before another Fishback takedown made it 6-1 before the end of the first. Fishback upped the lead with an early escape before adding another takedown for a 10-1 lead. Fishback finished off the match to win by major decision, 12-1.

197 – (14) Luke Geog (OSU) def. Cason Howle (NCST), MD, 17-4

Just a minute into the bout Geog scored the opening points with a takedown. Howle escaped before Geog added a takedown and a four-point nearfall to lead 10-1 after three minutes. Howle added an escape point to open the second. Geog, leading 10-2, escaped to open the third before adding a takedown for a 14-3 advantage. Another takedown got the win by major decision, 17-4.

HWT – (2) Isaac Trumble (NCST) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 5-1

Trumble jumped to a 3-0 lead with a takedown and built nearly 90 seconds of riding time before a Feldman escape make it 3-1. Trumble escaped to open the second to take a 4-1 lead into the third. Trumble finished off the match with a 5-1 win by decision with a point for riding time.

Up Next:

Ohio State will travel to Nashville Dec. 21 for the 2025 Collegiate Duals where they will take on Little Rock and No. 3 Iowa State.

Wt.	No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 9 NC State	OSU	NCST
125	(1) Vincent Robinson (NCST) def. Brendan McCrone (OSU), MD, 12-3	0	4
133	(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. Zach Redding (NCST), D, 7-1	3	4
141	(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (6) Ryan Jack (NCST), TF, 21-6	8	4
149	(6) Ethan Stiles (OSU) def. (7) Koy Buesgens (NCST), D, 4-3	11	4
157	(4) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (11) Jackson Arrington (NCST), MD, 9-1	15	4
165	(19) Will Denny (NCST) def. (11) Paddy Gallagher (OSU), SV-1, 6-5	15	7
174	(5) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (3) Matthew Singleton (NCST), D, 8-4	18	7
184	(6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. Don Cates (NCST), MD, 12-1	22	7
197	(14) Luke Geog (OSU) def. Cason Howle (NCST), MD, 17-4	26	7
HWT	(2) Isaac Trumble (NCST) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 5-1	26	10
	Attendance: 3,895