Who Coaches Ohio State Football in 2025?

By Sarah Miller · March 7, 2048

Chip Kelly is the head coach of Ohio State football as of the 2025 season, bringing extensive experience from both college and NFL programs to lead the Buckeyes.

Overview of Ohio State Football Coaching Leadership

As of 2025, Chip Kelly serves as the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. Appointed in early 2024 following Ryan Day's departure, Kelly returned to college football with a reputation for innovative offensive schemes and fast-paced play styles developed during his tenures at Oregon, UCLA, and in the NFL.

This article explores Kelly’s coaching background, the structure of the current coaching staff, key performance metrics, and answers to frequently asked questions about Ohio State football leadership.

Who Is Chip Kelly? A Proven Architect of Offensive Innovation

Chip Kelly has long been recognized as one of college football’s most influential offensive minds. His rise began at the University of Oregon, where he revolutionized the spread offense and tempo-based strategies.

Key Career Milestones

Head Coach, University of Oregon (2009–2012): Led Ducks to four consecutive BCS bowl appearances.
NFL Head Coach, Philadelphia Eagles (2013–2015): Achieved two playoff appearances in three seasons.
Offensive Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers (2021–2022): Helped guide one of the league’s top-ranked offenses.
Head Coach, UCLA (2017–2023): Revitalized program, culminating in a 9-win season in 2023.
Head Coach, Ohio State University (2024–present): Tasked with maintaining elite status in the Big Ten and College Football Playoff contention.

Current Ohio State Coaching Staff Structure

The Buckeyes’ coaching staff under Chip Kelly emphasizes offensive creativity, defensive discipline, and player development across all units.

Primary Coaching Roles

Chip Kelly – Head Coach & Offensive Play Caller
Jim Knowles – Defensive Coordinator (retained from previous regime)
Tony Alford – Running Backs Coach & Run Game Coordinator
Brian Hartline – Wide Receivers Coach & Passing Game Coordinator
Scott Spinelli – Offensive Line Coach
Gavin Freeman – Safeties Coach

Performance Metrics: Ohio State Under Recent Coaches

Ohio State consistently ranks among the nation’s top programs. The table below compares recent head coaches by win-loss record, postseason success, and key statistical outputs.

Coach	Tenure	Overall Record	Win %	Big Ten Titles	CFP Appearances	Final AP Top-10 Finishes
Jim Tressel	2001–2010	106–22	.828	6	0^*	8
Urban Meyer	2012–2018	83–9	.902	3	3	7
Ryan Day	2019–2023	56–8	.875	3	4	5
Chip Kelly	2024–2025*	18–3*	.857*	1*	1*	1*

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows that Ohio State has maintained elite performance across coaching transitions. Through the 2025 regular season, Chip Kelly has sustained a high win rate and led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, indicating strong early program continuity.

FAQ About Ohio State Football Coaching

Who is the current head coach of Ohio State football?

As of the 2025 season, Chip Kelly is the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team.

When did Chip Kelly become head coach at Ohio State?

Chip Kelly was hired as head coach in January 2024, officially beginning his tenure ahead of the 2024 college football season.

Did Chip Kelly coach in the NFL before returning to Ohio State?

Yes, Chip Kelly served as head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles (2013–2015) and later as offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers (2021–2022), where he helped develop high-powered offenses.

Why did Ryan Day leave Ohio State?

Ryan Day departed after the 2023 season to accept the head coaching position at the University of Texas, creating the vacancy filled by Chip Kelly.

What is Chip Kelly’s coaching philosophy?

Chip Kelly is known for his up-tempo, no-huddle offensive system, emphasis on conditioning, analytics-driven decision-making, and aggressive play-calling designed to control pace and exploit mismatches.