The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Ohio State: a football coaching history

Blue Blood#2 of 138–
See Ohio State’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
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Program GOAT
Woody Hayes
0 Dynasty · 23 Blue-Blood seasons
Built by
Woody Hayes
Power Program I → Blue Blood (+22.4)
The fall
John Cooper
Power Program I → Power Program I (−9.2)
Right now
Ryan Day
the 2nd-best of Ohio State's 9 coaches so far

Stature & coaches, 1936–2026

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

program stature (★ = Dynasty-tier season)SchmidtHayesBruceCooperTresselMeyerDay19401960198020002020

Every coach

2018–now
Ryan Daysustainer
Ryan Day kept Ohio State a national power for 9 seasons.
Blue Blood
82–12
2012–2018
Urban Meyersustainer
Urban Meyer kept Ohio State a national power for 7 seasons.
Blue Blood
83–9
2011–2011
Luke Fickellshort tenure
6–7
2001–2010
Jim Tresseltransformer
Jim Tressel took Ohio State from Power Program I to Blue Blood.
+12.3
106–22
1988–2000
John Cooperinheritor
John Cooper inherited a Power Program I Ohio State and won with it.
−9.2
111–43
1979–1987
Earle Bruceinheritor
Earle Bruce inherited a Blue Blood Ohio State and won with it.
Blue Blood
81–26
1951–1978
Woody Hayestransformer
Woody Hayes took Ohio State from Power Program I to Blue Blood.
+22.4
205–61
1947–1950
Wesley Feslerinheritor
Wesley Fesler inherited a Power Program I Ohio State and won with it.
Power Program I
21–10
1946–1946
Paul Bixlershort tenure
4–3
1944–1945
Carroll Widdoesshort tenure
16–2
1941–1943
Paul Browncaretaker
Paul Brown moved Ohio State from Power Program II to Power Program I in 3 seasons.
Power Program I
18–8
1936–1940
Francis Schmidtcaretaker
Francis Schmidt held Ohio State at Power Program II for 5 seasons.
Power Program II
25–14