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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day hinted that changes could be coming after Saturday’s 41-28 loss to the Oregon Ducks, and it didn’t take him long to make good on that promise.
On Monday morning, Day fired special teams coordinator Robby Discher, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, who first reported the move. ESPN later confirmed it.
Discher lasted just nine games in Columbus. Day hired him this offseason after three years as Illinois’ special teams coordinator, marking the first time since 2023 that Ohio State had a dedicated special teams coach on staff.
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The move didn’t go as planned. The breaking point came in the second quarter on Saturday.
Ohio State led 14-3 and had forced an Oregon punt on fourth-and-9 from the Ducks’ 31-yard line, but defensive lineman Teitum Tuioti took the snap and threw a jump pass to fellow defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei for a 30-yard gain.
Oregon scored a touchdown on the drive, part of 38 unanswered points. That came one week after the Buckeyes allowed a 44-yard punt return and committed three special teams penalties in a 30-18 loss to the USC Trojans.
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Day didn’t hide his frustration after the game.
“Getting off the field there before the fake punt would have been a huge stop and enabled for us to get the ball on offense and eat up some more clock there in the second quarter,” he said. “But it didn’t happen. So I’ve got to evaluate everything and try to come in [Sunday] and figure out with the staff the things that we’re just coming up short on and figure out how to adjust those things.
“And I think it all starts with the staff. And then it goes to the players. So there needs to be accountability for all of it. And then we go from there.”
Day also vented about the penalties too.
“The penalties are a killer,” Day added. “At the end of the day as a coach, you’ve got to look yourself in the mirror and find out why that’s happening.”
Ohio State ranks 102nd nationally in special teams efficiency, according to ESPN.
Firing Discher won’t come cheap either. He signed a two-year deal through next season and could be owed more than $500,000 in severance, according to the Dispatch.
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