HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER - Ohio State · PDF fileAfter graduating from Saint John High School in Ashtabula, ... He matriculated to Cincinnati and played defensive back for the ... HEAD

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HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER

Quick FactsHometown: Ashtabula, OhioHigh School: St. JohnAlma Mater: Cincinnati, 1986Master’s Degree: Ohio State, 1988Year in Coaching: 26th (First year at Ohio State)Wife: ShelleyChildren: Daughters, Nicole and Gigi, and son, Nathan

COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2012 Head Coach ..................................................................................Ohio State2005-10 Head Coach ........................................................................................Florida2003-04 Head Coach ...........................................................................................Utah2001-02 Head Coach ........................................................................... Bowling Green1996-2000 Wide Receivers .......................................................................... Notre Dame1990-95 Wide Receivers ......................................................................Colorado State1989 Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers .................................................. Illinois State1988 Outside Linebackers ................................................................. Illinois State1987 Grad Assistant (Wide Receivers) ..................................................Ohio State1986 Grad Assistant (Tight Ends) ...........................................................Ohio State

Sometime during the morning of November 28, 2011, Ohio na-tive Urban Meyer returned home. It was at that time when the 47-year-old Meyer, born in Toledo, raised in Ashtabula and with degrees from the University of Cincinnati and The Ohio State University, signed a six-year agreement to become the 24th head coach in the storied history of Ohio State football.

The only candidate interviewed by a five-member search committee of senior Ohio State leaders, headed by President E. Gordon Gee and Director of Athletics Gene Smith, Meyer, now 48, returns to collegiate coaching after sitting out the past year to devote time to his family – wife Shelley, college-age daughters Nicole and Gisele and 13-year-old son Nathan – and to work as an analyst for ESPN.

“In Urban Meyer we have found an exemplary person and re-markable coach to lead the University’s football program into the future,” Gee said. “As an alumnus, he understands and believes in the core academic mission of the University. As an Ohioan, he shares our common values and sense of purpose.”

Smith said that Meyer is “known not only as one of the nation’s most successful coaches, but also as a leader and mentor who cares deeply about the young men who are his student-athletes. He brings with him an understanding of the University – both the important traditions of its football program and the excellence of the institution.”

It’s easy to see why he was the No. 1 choice of the search committee.

Through 10 full seasons as a head coach, Meyer has the tenth-best winning percentage in major college football history with a winning rate of .814 (104-23). He will leap all the way to No. 2 among current major college coaches with that percentage, trailing only the .926 percentage owned by Boise State’s Chris Peterson.

HEAD COACHING RECORD Conf. FinalYear School Rec. Rec. Poll Bowl2001 Bowling Green 8-3 5-3 NR None2002 Bowling Green 9-3 6-2 NR None2003 Utah 10-2 6-1 (First) 21/21 Liberty2004 Utah 12-0 7-0 (First) 4/5 Fiesta2005 Florida 9-3 5-3 12/16 Outback2006 Florida 13-1 7-1 (First) 1/1 BCS National Championship Game2007 Florida 9-4 5-3 13/16 Capital One2008 Florida 13-1 7-1 (First) 1/1 BCS National Championship Game2009 Florida 13-1 8-0 (First, East) 3/3 Sugar 2010 Florida 8-5 4-4 NR OutbackTotals: 10 Years 104-23 60-18


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Meyer has already won two national championships – in 2006 and 2008 with the University of Florida – and no less than three national coach of the year honors, including The Sporting News honor in 2003 and the Eddie Robinson and Home Depot Coach of the Year awards, respectively, in 2004.

Meyer has not only won big at each of his three previous head coaching posi-tions, but he has won immediately. He led Bowling Green to the best turnaround season in the nation in 2001 with an 8-3 record and he went 9-3 in Year 2. He was 22-2 in two seasons at Utah, including a 16-game winning streak and a 12-0 campaign in 2004 when he led the first-ever non-Bowl Championship Season program into a BCS game.

He was 65-15 in his six seasons at Florida with the two national titles, two Southeastern Conference championships and three 13-win seasons, including consecutive 13-win seasons in 2008 and 2009 to become the first coach ever to accomplish that feat.

And now he brings his coaching talents home to Ohio, the state where he has lived for 25 of his 47 years and where he met his wife, the former Shelley Mather, who grew up in Frankfort, Ohio.

“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to return to Ohio State,” said Meyer. “This University and the state of Ohio have enormous meaning to me. My duty is to ensure that Ohio State’s football program reflects and enhances the academic mission of the institution. I am part of it, I believe in it, and I will live it.”

It all Started In OhioAfter graduating from Saint John High School in Ashtabula, Meyer was a 13th-round MLB draft pick of the Atlanta Braves and spent two years in minor league baseball. He matriculated to Cincinnati and played defensive back for the football program, graduating in 1986 with his bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Meyer’s first football coaching experience was as an intern at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati in 1986. The following year, he joined Coach Earle Bruce’s staff at Ohio State and spent two years as a graduate assistant – coaching tight ends in 1986 and receivers in 1987 – while pursuing his master’s degree in sports administration.

It was during his time as a Buckeye – Ohio State won a Big Ten title in 1986 and 1987 was Bruce’s final season as coach – that he forged a relationship with Bruce that has only been strengthened through the tests of time and change.

“My relationship with him [Earle] is extremely close, second only to my father,” Meyer said during the news conference to announce his hiring at Ohio State…17 days after his father, Bud, passed away.

“Every step of my career, every part of my family life, Coach Bruce has always been there. So close that he was gracious enough to speak at my father’s funeral just last Friday.”

Meyer, as every young coach who aspires to be a head coach and who thirsts for knowledge, then moved on to a series of assistant coaching positions – Il-linois State for two years under Jim Heacock, Colorado State for six years under Sonny Lubick and Bruce, and Notre Dame for one year under Lou Holtz and five years under Bob Davie – before getting his first head coaching assignment at Bowling Green.

First Year: Coach of the YearTaking over a team that was 2-9 in 2000 and that had not had a winning season seven years, Meyer guided the Falcons to the top turnaround in the nation in 2001 with a six-win improvement and an 8-3 record that included wins over Missouri, Northwestern and BGSU’s rival to its north, Toledo. He was named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year.

He followed that first year with a 9-3 record in his second year with the Falcons, including another win over Missouri. After BG opened the season with eight consecutive wins, the program cracked both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls for the first time in school history, peaking with an all-time school best No. 16 national ranking by ESPN/USA Today.

Meyer’s BGSU teams were anything but one-dimensional. His 2002 team led the nation in red zone production with 61 scores in 63 trips inside the 20 (.968) and were ninth in total offense (448.9 yards per game). Defensively, his 2001 team ranked first in the MAC in scoring, rushing and total defense and his teams led the MAC both years in turnover margin.

Josh Harris, who became a starter at quarterback in the ninth game of the 2001 season and reeled off 11 consecutive wins as a starter, told Plain Dealer reporter Elton Alexander that his former coach simply made players believe they were as good as any other team.

“One thing for sure, when coach Meyer believes in a guy, he might even believe in him more than the guy believes in himself,” Harris said. “There was a time when I had to get my belief in Josh Harris up to where Urban Meyer believed that Josh Harris was. That really propelled me, and my game, to new levels.

“That’s one of the things he did for me that I will always be thankful for.”


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The Move Out WestMeyer moved on the University of Utah following the 2002 season and in two seasons led the Utes to a 22-2 record. He was named national Coach of the Year in 2003 by The Sporting News and in 2004 he was named the Football Writers Association of America’s Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and the Home Depot Coach of the Year.

In his first season in Salt Lake City, Meyer coached the Utes to their first outright conference championship since 1957, a 17-0 Liberty Bowl win over Southern Mississippi, and a final national ranking of No. 21. In addition to his national coach of the year honor by The Sporting News, Meyer was named Mountain West Conference coach of the year and thus became the first coach in Utah’s 111-year football history to earn such an honor in his first year.

Utah then enjoyed the finest season in program history in 2004. The 12-0 record was the first 12-0 season in 75 years and a second-consecutive outright MWC championship was the first in conference history.

The Utah offense was unstoppable, finishing in the Top 5 in six categories, including No. 3 in scoring (45.3), total offense (499.7) and turnover margin (1.25). The team also led the MWC in 11 statistical categories and was No. 2 in pass-ing, scoring and total defense.

Following Utah’s 16th consecutive win, a 35-7 pummeling of Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl, Meyer’s record was a sterling 39-7 as a head coach and the University of Florida was in need of a coach.

Simply Great in Gainesville“Urban’s accomplishments speak for themselves,” Florida Athletics Director Jer-emy Foley said. And this was before Meyer had even begun to blow his previous coaching accomplishments out of the water with the even-greater success he would experience coaching the Gators.

Meyer coached Florida to a 9-3 record in his initial season, a record that included wins over four nationally ranked opponents, making Meyer the first first-year coach in UF history to accomplish the feat.

Meyer’s Year 2 success – he was a combined 21-3 in his second season at Bowling Green and Utah – continued in Gainesville as he led the Gators to a school-record 13 wins, and SEC and national championships against the toughest schedule in the nation. Florida played six ranked teams and 11 of its opponents went to bowl games. The BCS Championship game win: 41-14 over No. 1 ranked Ohio State in Glendale, Ariz. Meyer was named national Coach of the Year by the All-American Foundation at the conclusion of the season.

The 2007 Gator team went 9-3 and featured a Heisman Trophy-winning Tim Tebow and ranked third nationally with an average of 42.5 points per game.

Consecutive 13-win seasons followed in 2008 and 2009, a first in major col-lege history. The 2008 team was the most prolific offensive unit in SEC history with 611 points scored against the nation’s second-toughest schedule. Meyer won a second national championship this season, with Florida defeating Okla-homa, 24-14, in the BCS Championship game in Miami, Fla.

The only blemish on an otherwise spectacular 13-1 2009 season was to eventual national champion Alabama in the SEC championship game. This team’s senior class departed with the best record for a class in SEC history: 48-7.

Meyer, who took a brief leave of absence from coaching following the 2009 season, coached his last Florida team to an 8-5 record. His last game as Florida coach was 37-24 win over Penn State in the Outback Bowl, in Tampa, Fla.

Back Home to OhioOn Wednesday, Nov. 23, Ohio State Director of Athletics Gene Smith first talked to Meyer about returning to coaching after spending the year in an ESPN analyst booth. On Sunday, Nov. 27, Smith presented Meyer with terms for a six-year contract. Less than 24 hours later Meyer was a Buckeye.

And the rest of this story is future history.

More Notes on Urban Meyer:

• Only two coaches have had more victories in their first 10 years as a head coach than Meyer’s 104: George Woodruff (124 between 1892-1901 at Pennsylvania) and Bob Stoops (109 between 1999-2008). Note: records include at least five years as a Division I coach.

• Meyer has won 13 games three times during his career, including back-to-back in 2008 and 2009 to become the first BCS coach to ever accomplish that feat.

• His teams are 21-3 in “rivalry games.” Bowling Green was 1-1 vs. Toledo; Utah was 4-0 vs. Utah State and BYU; and Florida was 16-2 vs. Florida State, Tennessee and Georgia.

• His teams are also 60-18 in conference play with four championships (two apiece at Utah and Florida). They are also 2-1 in SEC title games, 7-1 in bowl games and 4-0 in BCS bowl games.

• Meyer has coached his teams to winning streaks of 11 games (Bowling Green), 20 games (16 at Utah and four at Florida), 11 games (Florida) and 22 games (Florida).

• His teams have 14 wins by 40-or-more points and another 20 wins by at least 30 points for a total of 34 blowouts.



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• Meyer’s teams are 2-2 vs. the No. 1 team in the nation, 7-3 vs. Top 5 teams, 11-4 vs. Top 10 teams and 19-7 vs. Top 25 teams.

• Both the Sporting News and Sports Illustrated named Meyer “Coach of the Decade” in December 2009.

• So far, 30 of his former Florida Gator players have been chosen in the NFL Draft, including more first-round selections – eight – than any other school has produced in the last five years.

• Meyer has watched a total of 36 players that he coached for at least two years get selected in the NFL Draft, including nine first-round draft picks.

• Of those 36 NFL Draft picks, three were quarterbacks: Bowling Green’s Josh Harris was a sixth-round selection by Baltimore in the 2004 NFL Draft and Utah’s Alex Smith (San Francisco, 2005) and Florida’s Tim Tebow (Denver, 2010) were each No. 1 draft picks with Smith the overall No. 1 pick.

• In addition to Smith and Tebow, Meyer’s first-round draft picks include offensive linemen Maurkice Pouncey (Pittsburgh, 2010) and Mike Pouncey (Miami, 2011); defensive linemen Jarvis Moss (Denver, 2007) and Derrick Harvey (Jacksonville, 2008); defensive backs Reggie Nelson (Jacksonville, 2007) and Joe Haden (Cleveland, 2010); and wide receiver/running back Percy Harvin (Minnesota, 2009).

• With the exception of kickers, Meyer has had multiple players at every position drafted into the NFL, including a position-best 10 defensive linemen, seven wide receivers, six defensive backs and five offensive linemen.

• Six of Meyer’s former assistant coaches are head coaches: Steve Addazio (Temple); Tim Beckman (Illinois); John “Doc Holliday (Marshall); Dan McCarney (North Texas); Dan Mullen (Mississippi State) and Charlie Strong (Louisville).

• Nine of his former assistant coaches are offensive (OC) defensive (DC), passing game (PG) or run game (RG) coordinators: Vance Bedford (DC at Louisville); Gregg Brandon (OC at Wyoming); Billy Gonzales (co-OC at Illinois); Chuck Heater (DC at Temple); John Hevesy (RG at Mississippi State); Scot Loeffler (OC at Auburn); Greg Mattison (DC at Michigan) and Greg Studrawa (OC at LSU).



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URBAN MEYER MOMENTS

Urban Meyer is introduced as Ohio State's 24th head football coach on Nov. 28, 2011. Meyer is the second-winningest active coach and has won two national championships.

The Meyer family - GiGi, Urban, Shelley, Nicki and Nathan - received a warm welcome from the Ohio State crowd at the men's basketball game against Indiana on Jan. 15.

Meyer and son Nathan enjoyed the honor of a ceremonial first pitch at a Cincinnati Red's game June 11. They repeated "first pitches" one week later in Cleveland.

Meyer, born in Toledo, raised in Ashtabula and with degrees from Cincin-nati and Ohio State, is happy to be home in Ohio.

Meyer spent time with Lauren Loose at "Lauren´s First and Goal" Football Camp June 17 at Otterbein University.

Meyer and Buckeye fan Jason Andrus helped kick off the 24th Columbus City Schools Special Olympics May 12.


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URBAN MEYER MOMENTS

Ohio State great and Trustee Clark Kellogg and CBS' Verne Lundquist interview Meyer during the Ohio State/Indiana basketball game Jan. 15.

Meyer and some assistant coaches and wives spent close to 90 minutes with about 800 Ohio State students in the student-only "town hall" event May 15.

Meyer has made it clear how much he believes in the support of the student body. During the "Student Appreciation Day" practice April 14 inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center he allowed students to get so close they could "hear in the huddle," and they even formed a Block "O" during a field goal drill.

Ohio State students enjoyed the opportunity to meet their FB coach following the "Urban Meyer Town Hall" meeting May 15. Meyer enjoyed the moment, too.

About 3,100 students showed up for "Student Appreciation Day" during spring drills April 14 that included a post-practice autograph and photo session.


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URBAN MEYER GAME-BY-GAME

Bowling Green – 2001Sept. 1 at Missouri......................... W 20-13Sept. 8 Buffalo ............................... W 35-0Sept. 22 Temple .............................. W 42-23Sept. 29 at Marshall ........................ L 31-37Oct. 6 Kent State .......................... W 24-7Oct. 13 at W. Michigan .................. L 28-37Oct. 20 at Akron ............................ W 16-11Nov. 3 Miami ................................ L 21-24Nov. 10 at Ohio ............................... W 17-0Nov. 17 at Northwestern ................ W 43-42Nov. 23 Toledo ................................ W 56-21

Bowling Green – 2002 Aug. 29 Tennessee Tech ................. W 41-7Sept. 14 Missouri ............................. W 51-28Sept. 21 at Kansas ........................... W 39-16Oct. 5 Ohio.................................... W 72-21Oct. 12 at C. Michigan ................... W 45-35Oct. 19 W. Michigan ...................... W 48-45 OTOct. 26 Ball State ........................... W 38-20Nov. 2 at Kent State...................... W 45-14Nov. 9 at N. Illinois ....................... L 17-26Nov. 16 at USF ................................ L 7-29Nov. 23 E. Michigan ........................ W 63-21Nov. 30 at Toledo ............................ L 24-42

Utah – 2003Aug. 28 Utah State.......................... W 40-20Sept. 6 at Texas A&M .................... L 26-28Sept. 11 California ........................... W 31-24Sept. 27 at Colorado State............... W 28-21Oct. 3 Oregon ............................... W 17-13Oct. 11 San Diego State................. W 27-6Oct. 18 at UNLV .............................. W 28-10Oct. 25 New Mexico ...................... L 35-47Nov. 1 at Air Force ........................ W 45-43 3OTNov. 15 Wyoming............................ W 47-17Nov. 22 at BYU ................................ W 3-0Dec. 31 vs. Southern Miss@ .......... W 17-0@Liberty Bowl at Memphis

Utah – 2004Sept. 2 Texas A&M ........................ W 41-21Sept. 11 at Arizona........................... W 23-6Sept. 18 at Utah State ..................... W 48-6Sept. 25 Air Force............................. W 49-35Oct. 1 at New Mexico .................. W 28-7Oct. 16 North Carolina ................... W 46-16Oct. 23 UNLV .................................. W 63-28Oct. 30 at San Diego State ............ W 51-28Nov. 6 Colorado State ................... W 63-31Nov. 13 at Wyoming ....................... W 45-28Nov. 20 BYU .................................... W 52-21Jan. 1 vs. Pittsburgh@ ................. W 35-7 @Fiesta Bowl at Scottsdale, Ariz.

Florida – 2005Sept. 3 Wyoming............................ W 32-14Sept. 10 Louisiana Tech ................... W 41-3Sept. 17 Tennessee .......................... W 16-7Sept. 24 at Kentucky ........................ W 49-28Oct. 1 at Alabama ........................ L 3-31Oct. 8 Mississippi St. ................... W 35-9Oct. 15 at LSU ................................ L 17-21Oct. 29 vs. Georgia* ....................... W 14-10Nov. 5 Vanderbilt .......................... W 49-42 2OTNov. 12 at South Carolina ............... L 22-30Nov. 26 Florida State ...................... W 34-7Jan. 2 vs. Iowa@ .......................... W 31-24*at Jacksonville; @Outback Bowl at Tampa, Fla.

Florida – 2006Sept. 2 Southern Miss ................... W 34-7Sept. 9 UCF..................................... W 42-0Sept. 16 at Tennessee ...................... W 21-20Sept. 23 Kentucky ............................ W 26-7Sept. 30 Alabama............................. W 28-13Oct. 7 LSU..................................... W 23-10Oct. 14 at Auburn ........................... L 17-27Oct. 28 vs. Georgia* ....................... W 21-14Nov. 4 at Vanderbilt ...................... W 25-19Nov. 11 South Carolina ................... W 17-16Nov. 18 Western Carolina ............... W 62-0Nov. 25 at Florida State .................. W 21-14Dec. 2 vs. Arkansas#..................... W 38-28Jan. 8 vs. Ohio State@ ................. W 41-14* at Jacksonville, Fla.; # SEC Championship game at Atlanta; @ BCS National Championship at Scotts-dale, Ariz.

Florida – 2007Sept. 1 W. Kentucky ....................... W 49-3Sept. 8 Troy .................................... W 59-31Sept. 15 Tennessee .......................... W 59-20Sept. 22 at Ole Miss ........................ W 30-24Sept. 29 Auburn ............................... L 17-20Oct. 6 at LSU ................................ L 24-28Oct. 20 at Kentucky ........................ W 45-37Oct. 27 vs. Georgia* ....................... L 30-42Nov. 3 Vanderbilt .......................... W 49-22Nov. 10 at So. Carolina ................... W 51-31Nov. 17 Fla. Atlantic........................ W 59-20Nov. 24 Florida State ...................... W 45-12Jan. 1 vs. Michigan@ ................... L 35-41*at Jacksonville, Fla.; @Capital One Bowl at Orlando, Fla.

Florida – 2008Aug. 30 Hawaii................................ W 56-10Sept. 6 Miami................................. W 26-3Sept. 20 at Tennessee ...................... W 30-6Sept. 27 Ole Miss............................. L 30-31Oct. 4 at Arkansas ........................ W 38-7Oct. 11 LSU..................................... W 51-21Oct. 25 Kentucky ............................ W 63-5Nov. 1 vs. Georgia* ....................... W 49-10Nov. 8 at Vanderbilt ...................... W 42-12Nov. 15 So. Carolina ....................... W 56-6Nov. 22 The Citadel......................... W 70-19Nov. 29 at Florida State .................. W 45-15Dec. 6 vs. Alabama# ..................... W 31-20Jan. 8 vs. Oklahoma@ .................. W 24-14*at Jacksonville, Fla.; #SEC championship game at Atlanta; @BCS National Championship game at Miami, Fla.

Florida – 2009Sept. 5 Charleston Southern .......... W 62-3Sept. 12 Troy .................................... W 56-6Sept. 19 Tennessee .......................... W 23-13Sept. 26 at Kentucky ........................ W 41-7Oct. 10 at LSU ................................ W 13-3Oct. 17 Arkansas ............................ W 23-20Oct. 24 at Mississippi State........... W 29-19Oct. 31 vs. Georgia* ....................... W 41-17Nov. 7 Vanderbilt .......................... W 27-3Nov. 14 at South Carolina ............... W 24-14Nov. 21 Florida International .......... W 62-3Nov. 28 Florida State ...................... W 37-0Dec. 5 vs. Alabama# ..................... L 13-32Jan. 1 vs. Cincinnati@ .................. W 51-24*at Jacksonville, Fla.; #SEC championship game at Atlanta; @Sugar Bowl at New Orleans

Florida – 2010Sept. 4 Miami Univ. ....................... W 34-12Sept. 11 South Florida...................... W 38-14Sept. 18 at Tennessee ...................... W 31-17Sept. 25 Kentucky ............................ W 48-14Oct. 2 at Alabama ........................ L 3-31Oct. 9 LSU..................................... L 29-33Oct. 16 Mississippi State ............... L 7-10Oct. 30 vs. Georgia* ....................... W 34-31 OTNov. 6 at Vanderbilt ...................... W 55-14Nov. 13 South Carolina ................... L 14-36Nov. 20 Appalachian State ............. W 48-10Nov. 27 at Florida State .................. L 7-31Jan. 1 vs. Penn State@ ................ W 37-24 *at Jacksonville, Fla.; @Outback Bowl at Tampa, Fla.


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QUICK FACTSHometown: Charlotte, N.C.High School: Charlotte SeniorAlma Mater: Appalachian State University, 1985Year in Coaching: 25th (First year at Ohio State) Wife: KaraChildren: Daughter, Tia, and son, Pierce

COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2012 Co-Defensive Coordinator/Asst. Head Coach/Safeties ..Ohio State University2011 Interim Head Coach ............................................. University of North Carolina2008-10 Def. Coord./Secondary ........................................ University of North Carolina2007 Defensive Coordinator .............................................. University of Minnesota2001-06 Defensive Backs ................................................................... Tennessee Titans1998-00 Defensive Backs ................................................................ University of Texas1995-97 Defensive Coordinator ................................................ University of Louisville1994 Defensive Quality Control ................................................New Orleans Saints1992-93 Defensive Backs ........................................ University of Southern Mississippi1991 Outside Linebackers ............................................................. Tulane University1990 Special Teams/WRs ........................................... Austin Peay State University1988-89 Defensive Coordinator ....................................... Austin Peay State University

Everett Withers, a 24-year coaching veteran, is in his first season as the Ohio State Buckeyes’ co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. He will also serve as the position coach for the team’s safeties. Withers has been a collegiate coach for 17 years and has also worked seven seasons in the National Football League: six years (2001-06) as defensive backs coach with the Tennessee Titans under Jeff Fisher, and a year (1994) as a defensive quality control coach for the New Orleans Saints. Withers has spent the last four years at the University of North Carolina. He was promoted to interim head coach at the school this past July and he led the Tar Heels to a 7-5 record and to a berth in the Independence Bowl against Missouri. Withers’ collegiate coaching resume includes nine years as a defensive coordinator with a vast majority of his time - 15 seasons - spent also coaching the defensive backfield. His Tar Heel defenses were top notch.

•Hisfirstunit-2008-rankedeighthinthecountrywith20interceptions,anumberthatwasjust one off the UNC single season record.

•His2009defensewasamongthenation’selite,rankingsixthintotaldefense,10thagainsttherun, 13th in scoring and 14th in pass defense.

•His2010unitrankedfourthintheAtlanticCoastConferenceand30thnationally.Fiveplayersoff that unit were taken in the NFL draft, including first-round pick Robert Quinn.

•AndthispastyeartheTarHeelsranked14thagainsttherun.

Additionally, Withers’ UNC defenses have picked off 71 passes in the past four years. Withers spent one year as defensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota prior to his North Carolina position. He also has been an assistant coach at the University of Texas (1998-2000; defensive backs), Louisville (1995-97; defensive coordinator/assistant head coach/defen-sive backs), Southern Mississippi (1992-93; defensive backs/assistant special teams), Tulane (1991; outside linebackers) and Austin Peay (1988-90; defensive coordinator/defensive backs; tight ends/special teams). A native of Charlotte, N.C., Withers attended Appalachian State University and was a four-year letter-winner as a defensive back. He served as team captain in 1984. Withers and his wife, Kara, have a daughter, Tia, and a son, Pierce.

1ST SEASON

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/SAFETIES

EVERETT WITHERS


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QUICK FACTSHometown: Columbus, OhioHigh School: DeSalesAlma Mater: The Ohio State University, 1997Year in Coaching: 14th (11th year at Ohio State)Wife: AmyChildren: Son Landon, daughter Luca, and twin sons Aydon & Ashton

COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2012 Defensive Coordinator/LBs ...................... Ohio State2011 Head Coach.............................................. Ohio State2005-2011 Co-Defensive Coordinator/LBs ................. Ohio State2004 Linebackers .............................................. Ohio State2002-2003 Special Teams Coordinator ...................... Ohio State2000-2001 Defensive Line Coach ...................................... Akron1999 Graduate Assistant .................................. Ohio State

Luke Fickell will coach his 11th season at his alma mater in 2012 in the position of defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer announced Nov. 28, 2011 - the day he was hired - that Fickell would be a part of his Ohio State coaching staff. Fickell was the team’s head coach in 2011, a position he accepted on May 30, 2011 without demands, without questions and without any prior head coaching experience. He was asked to step forward and take over a program in need of a steadying influence, and he was just that through a 6-6 regular season and a season-ending 24-17 loss to Florida in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. “Coach Fick” was much more than a just a steadying influence, though. He was an accomplished leader through one of the most difficult times in Ohio State athletics history. He kept the team focused on the controllable - always - and despite 53 games missed by starters, the constant molding of two first-year quarterbacks, and inexperience and youth up and down the lineup, he had the Buckeyes in control of their Big Ten championship destiny until the last three weeks of the season. “Luke ... took on an unbelievable challenge to lead this football program through this particular year at this particular time, and he was the right leader for that time to lead this football program,” Gene Smith said. Prior to Fickell’s appointment to head coach he had been promoted to assistant head coach in March 2011. He also coached the Buckeye linebackers and has served as co-defensive coordinator. Fickell’s coaching career began at Ohio State. After spending a year on the injured reserve list with the New Orleans Saints, he was hired in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Ohio State by his college coach, John Cooper. His first full-time coaching position came in 2000 under Lee Owens at Akron, spending two years as defensive line coach. Jim Tressel brought him to Ohio State as special teams coordinator in 2002 and he also worked with the defensive front. He was named linebackers coach in 2004 and added co-defensive coordinator duties to his resume in 2005. Fickell has been a part of some outstanding Ohio State defenses. In 2005 the unit was fifth in the NCAA in total defense and first in rushing defense. In 2006 it was 12th in total defense. In 2007 the Buckeyes were first nationally in total defense, in addition to being first in scoring and pass defense. The team was 14th in total defense in 2008 and, in 2009 and 2010, the Buckeyes were fifth and fourth, respectively, in total defense. Fickell is a Columbus native (DeSales High School, where he was a state wrestling champion) and a 1997 graduate of Ohio State. He played for the Buckeyes from 1992-96, redshirting the first year and then starting the next four seasons at nose guard. He started a school-record 50 consecutive games between 1993 and 1996. Fickell concluded his Ohio State career with 212 total tackles, including 26 tackles-for-loss and six sacks. During his four years in the starting lineup, the Buckeyes posted a combined record of 41-8-1 overall and were 26-5-1 in Big Ten play with a pair of Big Ten co-championships to their credit. With the win over Arizona State in the Rose Bowl, the Buckeyes finished the 1996 season with a sparkling 11-1 record and were second in the nation in both major polls in the final rankings. Luke and his wife, Amy (an Ohio State physical therapy graduate), have four children: Landon, Luca, and twins Aydon and Ashton.

11TH SEASON

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/LINEBACKERS

LUKE FICKELL


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COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2012 Offensive Coordinator/QBs ...........................................................Ohio State2009-11 Offensive Coordinator/QBs .......................................................... Iowa State2007-08 Offensive Coordinator/QBs .....................................................................Rice2005-06 Offensive Coordinator/QBs ......................................................... Texas State2001-04 WRs/Special Teams Coord. ............................................Sam Houston State1999-2000 Offensive Graduate Assistant ...............................................................Texas

QUICK FACTSHometown: Simi Valley, Calif. (born in Cincinnati)High School: Simi ValleyAlma Mater: Cal Lutheran, 1997Master’s Degree: University of Texas, 2000Year in Coaching: 13th (First year at Ohio State)Wife: MichelleChildren: Daughter, Priya, and son, Maddock

Tom Herman, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Iowa State University the past three years, and before that an offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for record-setting offenses at Rice University, is in his first season as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. “Tom Herman has one of the bright young minds in college football,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said of his coach who is, indeed, intellectual enough to be a member of the national high-IQ society, MENSA. “His philosophies are very similar to those of my own.” Herman’s 2011 Iowa State offense put up 44 points in a triple-overtime win over Iowa and tallied 37 in a double-overtime upset of then-undefeated and No. 2 Oklahoma State. The offense averaged nearly 390 total yards per game. “To work with and for Coach Meyer is an exciting opportunity for me,” Herman said. “I am really looking forward to working with him and learning about his offensive systems.” Herman has 11 years experience as a collegiate coach, including seven seasons as an offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, and 13 when his two seasons - 1999-2000 - as a graduate assistant at Texas are included. He coached four years at Sam Houston State (2001-04), serving as receivers coach and special teams coordinator. He also spent two years at Texas State (2005-06) and two years at Rice (2007-08) as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. While his Texas State offenses led the Southland Conference in total offense each season, his time at Rice was particularly notable. His offenses broke over 40 school records and in his second season the Owls won 10 games and went to a bowl for the first time since 1954. Furthermore, Rice ranked in the Top 10 nationally in 2008 in passing offense (5th; 327.8), scoring offense (T8th; 41.6) and total offense (10th; 472.3). Two Rice receivers had more than 1,300 yards receiving that year, tight end James Casey had 111 catches and quarterback Chase Clement was the Conference USA MVP. Herman was born in Cincinnati and still has family there, although he was raised in Simi Valley, Calif. He played collegiately at California Lutheran, graduating in 1997 with a degree in business administration. He has a master’s in education from the University of Texas. Herman and his wife, Michelle, have a daughter, Priya, and a son, Maddock.

1ST SEASON

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/QUARTERBACKS

TOM HERMAN


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COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2012 Co-Offensive Coordinator/OL ........................................................Ohio State2011 OL/Run Game Coordinator ......................................................... Notre Dame2010 Offensive Line ............................................................................ Notre Dame2009 Assoc. Head Co./OC/QB .................................................................... Kansas2007-08 Offensive Coordinator/QB .................................................................. Kansas2005-06 OL/Run Game Coordinator .................................................................. Illinois2004 OL/Run Game Coordinator ................................................................. Kansas2003 Offensive Line .................................................................................... Kansas2000-02 Offensive Line ..................................................................Air Force Academy1998-99 Offensive Coord/QB .............................................................................. Army1992-97 Offensive Line ....................................................................................... Army1991 Defensive Line ...................................................................................... Army1988-90 Executive Asst./Recruiting .................................................................... Army1987 Centers/Guards ..................................................................................... Army1985-86 LB/Secondary........................................................................ Michigan State1984 Running Backs ..................................................................................... Akron

QUICK FACTSHometown: Strasburg, OhioHigh School: Strasburg-FranklinAlma Mater: Mount Union, 1984Master’s Degree: Akron, 1985Year in Coaching: 29th (First year at Ohio State)Wife: Mary BethChildren: Madisyn, Merideth and Edward

Ohio native and coaching veteran Ed Warinner, who has worked with four offenses during his career that have led the nation in rushing, is in his first season as Ohio State’s co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Warinner will coordinate the Buckeyes’ running game in this position. Warinner, the offensive line coach the past two years at Notre Dame and who had the added responsibility of run game coordinator this past season, will coach his 29th collegiate season in 2012. He was a finalist this past season for the FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year. He has nine years of experience in a coordinator position, including three years as offensive coordinator at Kansas when the Jayhawks averaged 445.5 total yards per game and 35.3 points during that three-year period. “I really wanted to hire a coach with coordinator experience,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said. “That was very important to me. Ed has that experience. His offenses at Kansas were not only impressive, but they were some of the top offenses in the country.” Warinner has coached at seven different schools: Akron, Michigan State, Army, Air Force, Kansas, Illinois and Notre Dame. In addition to his nine years in coordinator positions, he has spent 15 of the past 20 seasons coaching the offensive line. Earlier this season Rivals.com named Warinner one of the Top 20 “hottest assistant coaches” in the nation. After opening his coaching career in 1984 at Akron (running backs), Warinner was linebackers and secondary coach at Michigan State in 1985-86. Then came a 13-year run at Army, a period when he coached along the offensive line for seven years and became a coordinator - offensive - for the first time (1998-99). While Warinner was at Army the Cadets led the nation in rushing three times. He left Army to join Fisher DeBerry’s staff at Air Force. He spent three years there as the offensive line coach and the Falcons led the nation in rushing in 2002 (307.8 yards per game). The first of two terms at Kansas - 2003-04 - ensued for Warinner, working as offensive line coach/run game coordinator, before a two-year run with Illinois in the same capacity. In his second season with the Illini, his rushing attack netted 188.3 yards per game which was the best by an Illinois team since 1973.

1ST SEASON

CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/OFFENSIVE LINE

ED WARINNER

Warinner’s talents as an offensive coordinator then took center stage from 2007-09 while at Kansas. The Jayhawks posted the three best offenses in terms of total yards and passing yards in those years and also had three of the top seven scoring seasons in school history as well. His 2007 Jayhawks were the nation’s second-highest scoring team (42.8 points per game) and set a school record by averaging 479.8 yards per game, two huge reasons that Kansas went 12-1 that year with a 24-21 FedEx Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech. The 2008 Jayhawks averaged 432.4 yards and 33.4 points per game, respectively, and his final Jayhawk offense averaged 422.4 offensive yards, including a school-record 310.3 passing yards. Warinner was a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association’s National Assistant Coach of the Year award following the 2009 campaign. He then joined Kelly’s staff at Notre Dame, where he helped the Irish to consecutive bowl games the past two years; the 2010 Hyundai Sun Bowl and the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl. In 2010 Notre Dame had its best per carry rushing average since 2003 (4.0), a figure that improved to 4.8 in 2011. The Irish offensive line allowed just 17 sacks this past season and only 20 in 2010. Warinner was a football and baseball letterman at Mount Union from 1979-83. He has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Mount Union (1984) and a master’s in education from Akron (1985). He and his wife, Mary Beth, have three children: daughters Madisyn and Merideth, and a son, Edward.


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COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2009-11 Assoc. Head Coach/DBs/Special Teams ........................................Cincinnati2007-08 Defensive Backs ............................................................................Cincinnati1991-06 Head Coach ..................................................Colerain H.S. (Cincinnati, Ohio)1989-90 Head Coach .................................................................. Loveland (Ohio) H.S.1985-88 Assistant Coach ................................................................ Lakota (Ohio) H.S.1983-84 Assistant Coach .......................................................... Greenhills (Ohio) H.S.

QUICK FACTSHometown: Colerain, OhioHigh School: ColerainAlma Mater: Dayton (1983)Year in Coaching: 30th (First year at Ohio State)Wife: HollyChildren: Sons Brayden and Dylan; daughter, Cortney

Kerry Coombs, an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati the past five years and before that an outstanding Ohio high school head coach at Colerain, is in his first season in charge of the Buckeye cornerbacks. Coombs, associate head coach at UC in addition to his responsibilities as the team’s defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator, follows the trend of Ohio State assistants who are not only considered terrific coaches, but are coaches with ties to the state of Ohio. Coombs grew up in Colerain, graduated from Colerain High School in 1979 and from the University of Dayton in 1983, and has a master’s degree from Wright State (1996). He was a high school coach in Ohio for 24 seasons, including a highly successful 16-year run as head coach at Colerain, located just outside of Cincinnati. “Kerry Coombs had an incredible record of achievement as a high school head coach and he is highly regarded as one of the great coaches in Ohio high school football history,” Meyer said. “I have watched him coach in high school and at the University of Cincinnati and I have great respect for the way he works. He is a strong recruiter. He knows defense and special teams. And he is an excellent teacher.” Coombs has 29 years of coaching behind him as he enters the 2012 season with the Buckeyes, including five years with the Bearcats. Hired away from Colerain by Brian Kelly after the 2006 high school season, Coombs was part of Kelly’s three Cincinnati teams that were 33-7 overall and played in BCS bowl games after the 2008 (Orange Bowl vs. Virginia Tech) and 2009 (Sugar Bowl vs. Florida) seasons. After Kelly left UC for Notre Dame after the 2009 season, Coombs stayed on new UC coach Butch Jones’ staff. After an initial 4-8 season under Jones, Cincinnati went 10-3 this past season with a Liberty Bowl win over Vanderbilt. While at UC Coombs mentored three NFL draft picks: second-team All-American and UC career interception leader Mike Mickens (Dallas Cowboys), 2007 NCAA interception leader DeAngelo Smith (Dallas Cowboys) and all-BIG EAST performer Brandon Underwood (Green Bay Packers). He also coached Haruki Nakamura in 2007, his first year at UC and a year the Bearcats led the nation with 26 interceptions. Coombs, a member of the University of Dayton’s 1980 Division III national championship team while studying secondary education, charged through the high school ranks after his playing days were over. He spent two seasons as an assistant at Greenhills High School and four at Lakota before taking over as head coach at Loveland in 1989. Two years later - 1991 - he took over at Colerain. In 16 seasons at Colerain Coombs’ teams went to 10 state playoffs, including five state semifinal berths. His 2004 team won the Division I state championship with a 15-0 mark that included a record-setting title game win over Canton McKinley, 50-10. It was - and still is - the most points scored and the largest margin of victory in the Ohio “big school” state title game.

1ST SEASON

CORNERBACKS

KERRY COOMBS

Colerain won seven consecutive Greater Miami Conference championships under Coombs from 2000-06, and Coombs had a 161-34 record as head coach. His overall head coaching record through 18 seasons is 167-48. Coombs sent five of his Colerain players to Ohio State, including Jefferson Kelley in the mid-1990s and most recently Connor and Spencer Smith and Tyler Moeller. Coombs and his wife, Holly, are the parents of three grown children: son Brayden played collegiately at Miami (Ohio) and is currently on staff with the Cincinnati Bengals; daughter Cortney played soccer at Ball State; and son Dylan is a freshman football player and in the Lindner Honors Plus business program at the University of Cincinnati.


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QUICK FACTSHometown: Cleveland, Ohio High School: John MarshallAlma Mater: Allegheny College, 1993 Years in Coaching: 20th (Second year at Ohio State)Wife: MoniqueChildren: Daughters Amari and Anaya

COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2012 Running Backs .................................................................................Ohio State2011 Wide Receivers ...............................................................................Ohio State2010 Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator ..................................................Florida2009 Running Backs ................................................................................... Syracuse2008 Running Backs .................................................................................Tennessee2005-07 Running Backs .......................................................................................Florida2004 Running Backs ......................................................................Mississippi State2001-03 Off. Quality Con./Special Teams ........................................ Green Bay Packers2000 Running Backs/Special Teams ........................................Bowling Green State1996-99 Running Backs ...................................................................................Villanova1995 Asst. RB/Dir. of FB Operations ....................................................Pennsylvania1994 Graduate Assistant ..............................................................Eastern Michigan1993 Running Backs .....................................................................Allegheny College

Stan Drayton’s 20th season of coaching, and his second season at Ohio State, will return the former All-American running back to the position he played and is most experienced coaching: running back. Drayton was asked to stay on Ohio State’s coaching staff by new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone because Drayton has now been hired three times by Meyer: twice to coach running backs at the University of Florida and now in that same capacity at Ohio State. While at UF, Drayton helped Meyer and the Gators win the 2006 national championship. A Cleveland native and a graduate of John Marshall High School, Drayton came to Ohio State from the University of Florida, where he served as the Gators’ running backs coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2010 season; he also served as Florida’s running backs coach from 2005-07, and held the same position at SEC schools Tennessee (2008) and Mississippi State (2004). With coaching experience and success at every level, Drayton’s resume includes stints as an assistant coach at Syracuse (2009), Bowling Green (2000), Villanova (1996-2000), Penn (1995), Eastern Michigan (1994) and Allegheny (1993). From 2001-03, he served as the offensive quality control and assistant special teams coach for the Green Bay Packers, helping them to three NFC playoff appearances. He is a past nominee for the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year award, and was recognized by Rivals as one of the nation’s top 25 recruiters. Three times a first-team All-America selection as a running back at Allegheny (Pa.) College, Drayton is Allegheny’s all-time leading rusher and scorer and was a part of the 1990 Division III national championship team. He still holds the Division III single-season record for touchdowns scored per game (3.2). Drayton was a two-time All-American in track as well, competing in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. A 1993 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in English, Drayton was inducted into the Allegheny College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. Drayton, who coached Ohio State’s wide receivers in 2011, and his wife Monique have two daughters: Amari and Anaya.

2ND SEASON

RUNNING BACKS

STAN DRAYTON


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QUICK FACTSHometown: Amanda, OhioHigh School: Amanda-ClearcreekAlma Mater: Wilmington, 1982Master’s Degree: Ohio State, 1987Year in Coaching: 31st (First at Ohio State)Wife: BevChildren: Daughters Dawn and Drew

Tim Hinton, who has coached in or recruited the state of Ohio for 30 years, is in his first season as the Ohio State tight ends and fullbacks coach. Hinton was the running backs coach at Notre Dame the past two seasons. Hinton will be in his 17th collegiate coaching season this year and his 31st year of coaching overall. His coaching resume includes 11 highly successful seasons as the head coach at Harding High School in Marion, Ohio. He led Harding to five state playoff berths and five conference titles and he was the 1995 Ohio Division I co-Coach of the Year. “Tim is an awesome coach,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said. “He and I worked together on the Ohio State staff in 1986, but what I am most impressed with is his time spent as a high school coach in Ohio. He had some outstanding teams at Harding and his extensive experiences coaching in the state were crucial in my desire to want him on our staff.” Hinton’s 30 seasons of coaching experience includes 16 seasons in the collegiate ranks with positions at Ohio State, Wilmington, Ohio, Cincinnati and Notre Dame, and 14 years as a head coach at three Ohio high schools: Zane Trace (1987-88); Van Wert (1989) and Harding (1993-2003). “I have always felt it would be an honor to have an opportunity to coach for and to represent Ohio State,” Hinton said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to work with great people and great coaches at such a wonderful place.” This past season at Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood rushed for 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2010, a quartet of Notre Dame rushers combined for 1,517 yards and a 4.8 yards per carry average and, impressively, fumbled only twice all season and both occurred in the same game. Excellent ball protection was also evident among Hinton’s running backs at the University of Cincinnati, where he coached six years between 2004-09, including three seasons under former Ohio State assistant and current Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio. Neither of his two leading rushers during the 2009 UC season lost a fumble in 195 carries. Hinton spent his first three seasons as running backs coach for Dantonio’s Bearcats teams. After coaching linebackers for the first year of the Kelly administration, he moved back to running backs for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Dantonio pulled Hinton from the high school ranks back into the college ranks after Hinton’s

1ST SEASON

TIGHT ENDS/FULLBACKS

TIM HINTON

COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2012 Tight Ends/Fullbacks .....................................................................Ohio State2010-11 Running Backs ........................................................................... Notre Dame2009 RBs/Recruiting Coordinator ...........................................................Cincinnati2008 Running Backs ...............................................................................Cincinnati2007 Linebackers ....................................................................................Cincinnati2004-06 Running Backs ...............................................................................Cincinnati1993-03 Head Coach ........................................................Marion (Ohio) Harding H.S.1991-92 Defensive Line/Strength Coach ............................................................. Ohio1990 Wide Receivers ...................................................................................... Ohio1989 Head Coach ..................................................................Van Wert (Ohio) H.S.1987-88 Head Coach .............................................Zane Trace (Chillicothe, Ohio) H.S.1985-86 Graduate Assistant .......................................................................Ohio State1982-84 Tight Ends/Wide Receivers ......................................................... Wilmington1981 Student Assistant ....................................................................... Wilmington

11-year run at Harding High School, where in addition to directing his teams to five state playoff appearances, he developed 13 players who would go on to major college programs. He was extremely active in the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association, serving as an officer for six years, including vice-president of the organization in 2003. Three seasons at Ohio University, coaching the wide receivers in 1990 and the defensive line in 1991-92, preceded Hinton’s position at Harding and followed his first two head coaching positions at Zane Trace and Van Wert high schools, respectively. While attending Wilmington College (from which he graduated in 1982 with a degree in industrial education), Hinton was an assistant coach at Amanda-Clearcreek High School for three seasons (1978-80) and then parlayed that experience into a student-assistant position at Wilmington that started in 1981 and concluded in 1984. Wilmington won two conference titles during that time and made two appearances in the NAIA playoffs. Hinton then enrolled at Ohio State to coach in a graduate assistant capacity for two seasons (1985-86) under Earle Bruce and to work on his master’s degree (educational policy and leadership, 1987). The Buckeyes went to two bowl games and earned a share of the 1986 Big Ten championship. Hinton and his wife, Bev, have two daughters: Dawn and Drew.


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COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2012 Wide Receivers .............................................................................Ohio State2011 WRs/Special Teams Coord. ............................................................... Temple2010 WRs/Special Teams Coord. ............................................................ Marshall2005-09 GA/Quality Control Coach ...................................................................Florida

QUICK FACTSHometown: Dublin, OhioHigh School: Dublin CoffmanAlma Mater: University of Florida, 2007Year in Coaching: Eighth (First year at Ohio State)Wife: CourtneyChildren: Cameron and Quinn Olivia

Zach Smith, who spent five seasons with Urban Meyer at the University of Florida coaching players like Percy Harvin, Aaron Hernandez and Louis Murphy, is in his first year as Ohio State’s wide receivers coach. The 2012 season will be Smith’s third year of coaching in a fulltime capacity. He previously had been hired by former Meyer assistants-turned-head coaches Doc Holliday (Marshall) and Steve Addazio (Temple) as wide receivers and special teams coach. “I know what a quality coach Zach is,” Meyer said. “He knows my system inside and out and he teaches the system the way I want it to be taught.” Smith spent five years as a graduate assistant and quality control assistant for Meyer at Florida, during which time Florida won a pair of national championships while producing some of the best offensive and special teams units in the country. Smith was a special teams quality control coach for three years (2005-07) and an offensive graduate assistant for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He assisted with coaching the UF wide receivers, quarterbacks and special teams during his time in Gainesville. Smith left Florida to work on Holliday’s staff at Marshall for the 2010 season. He then moved on to Temple when Steve Addazio took over this year. Marshall’s receivers totaled 152 catches for 1,824 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2010 and featured all-Conference USA performer Aaron Dobson. Temple’s receivers managed 66 catches for 961 yards and eight touchdowns despite the Owls featuring the seventh-best rushing offense in the country and the top unit in the Mid-American Conference. Additionally, Temple’s special teams ranked first in the MAC in kickoff returns and second in net punting and punt returns. Those units also ranked fourth, 14th and 23rd nationally. Temple won nine games this past season, including its first bowl win (37-15 over Wyoming in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl) in 32 years. Smith, who attended Dublin Coffman High School and who is a 2007 graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in sports management, and his wife Courtney have one son, Cameron (2), and an infant daughter, Quinn Olivia.

1ST SEASON

WIDE RECEIVERS

ZACH SMITH


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QUICK FACTSHometown: Akron, OhioHigh School: Walsh JesuitCollege: Ohio State University, 2004Year in Coaching: Second (Second year at Ohio State)Wife: JenniferChildren: Sons Tyler and Carter

Mike Vrabel, one of the great defensive linemen in the history of the Big Ten Conference, will coach the Ohio State defensive line in 2012 as part of Urban Meyer’s first Ohio State coaching staff. Vrabel is in his second season as a collegiate coach after coaching the Ohio State linebackers in 2011. Vrabel, who has his degree from Ohio State in exercise science, was a dominant performer for the Buckeyes while earning two Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year honors (1995 and 1996). He was the first to win the award two times and he also earned back-to-back All-America honors those same seasons. Vrabel twice set the Ohio State single season record for sacks and tackles for loss (TFL) and he still holds school records for career sacks (36) and single season and career TFLs (26 in 1995 and 66). Heading into the 2011 season Vrabel still ranked among the NCAA’s all-time Top 5 in career TFLs (third), career sacks (tied for third) and single season TFLs (tied for fifth). Those three totals are each the most in Big Ten Conference history as well. The Akron, Ohio, native embarked on what would become a distinguished NFL career with three teams following his Ohio State playing days. It was a professional career that saw him a part of the New England Patriots’ dynamic run of three Super Bowls in four years (2001, 2003, 2004). In 2007, as a member of the Patriots, he was named to the Pro Bowl and a month later was named All-Pro. On top of these accomplishments, Vrabel’s professional career included 206 games played with Pittsburgh, New England and Kansas City, 140 starts and enough impressive statistics - 57 sacks, 11 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and 11 touchdowns receiving (as a tight end), including two in Super Bowls - that one has to conclude he is one of the great performers in a team sport that Ohio State has ever produced. Drafted in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh, Vrabel spent four years with the Steelers and played in 51 games. He was a starter for eight seasons with the Patriots, playing in 125 games and starting 110 games. He spent the last two years with Kansas City playing in and starting 30 games. Vrabel retired from the NFL in July 2011 after 14 years in the league and joined coach Luke Fickell’s staff at Ohio State in the role of linebackers coach. Vrabel, who graduated from Ohio State in 2004, attended Walsh Jesuit High School in Akron. He and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of two sons: 10-year-old Tyler and 9-year-old Carter.

2ND SEASON

DEFENSIVE LINE

MIKE VRABEL

COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2012 Defensive Line ..............................................................................Ohio State 2011 Linebackers ...................................................................................Ohio State


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QUICK FACTSHometown: Ambridge, Pa.High School: AmbridgeAlma Mater: West Liberty State, 1987Master’s Degrees: Ohio State University, 1988; West Virginia, 1990Year in Strength & Conditioning: 26th (First year at Ohio State)Wife: SusieChildren: Son, Mitchell, and daughter, Maddie

Mickey Marotti is in his first season as the assistant athletic director for football sports performance at Ohio State. He is the one person Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer trusts in the critical area of strength and conditioning training and overseeing sports performance, and he is an individual Meyer has worked with or hired four times now.

“There are times in the year when the strength staff has more contact with the team than the coaching staff,” Meyer said, “and I have complete trust in Mickey Marotti’s abilities to prepare our student-athletes to be the strongest, fastest and mentally toughest football players they can be.”

Marotti, called a “master” of motivation and mental preparation by Meyer when the two were paired at Florida, first worked with Meyer when the two were graduate assistants at Ohio State, in 1987. Marotti, who also worked as Grove City High School’s strength coach that year, earned a master’s of arts degree in strength and conditioning from Ohio State before moving on to the University of West Virginia to be a strength assistant. He graduated from WVU in two years with a master’s of science degree in sports medicine.

From there he went on to the University of Cincinnati, where he spent seven seasons (1990-97) as head strength and conditioning coach for UC’s 20-sport program. He also worked in the areas of diet analysis and planning and assisted in student-athlete rehabilitation from injuries.

Midway through Meyer’s five-year run as an assistant coach at Notre Dame, Marotti had the opportunity to work with him again when he was named Notre Dame’s director of strength and conditioning in 1998. He spent seven seasons in South Bend, coordinating all aspects of the strength and conditioning program for the 26-sport department, including developing a year-round program for the football team, coordinating camps, clinics and special events, and developing policies and regulations.

Marotti was then one of Meyer’s first hires when he took over as head coach of Florida in early 2005. And for the last seven years Marotti has overseen the complete strength and conditioning programs for all of Florida’s intercollegiate sports. He also served as the director of the football athletic performance team.

Unique in the fact he is one of only 100 strength trainers to hold a Master of Strength and Conditioning – the highest honor in his profession – certification, Marotti is also atypical in the things he has his players do – haul rocks; flip tires, midnight workouts, etc. – that all lead to developing a mental and physical edge.

“I believe the strength staffs that Mickey has led have been the best staffs in college football,” Meyer said. “He is the best there is at developing physically and mentally tough football players.”

ASSISTANT AD FOR FB SPORTS PERFORMANCE

MICKEY MAROTTI

COACHING ASSIGNMENTS2012 Asst. AD for FB Sports Performance ............................................Ohio State 2005-11 Director of Strength and Conditioning ................................................Florida1998-2005 Director of Strength and Conditioning ....................................... Notre Dame1990-98 Head Strength and Conditioning Coach .........................................Cincinnati1989-90 Strength Assistant ...................................................................West Virginia1987-88 Graduate Assistant Strength Coach ..............................................Ohio State1987-88 Head Strength Coach .................................................. Grove City (Ohio) H.S.

Marotti’s talents have helped Florida develop 22 All-Americans and eight first-round NFL draft choices during his seven years in Gainesville. And there is no disputing the team accomplishments the Gators have achieved: two national championships, two Southeastern Conference championships and three 13-win seasons.

A native of Ambridge, Pa., Marotti was a four-year letterwinner as a fullback for West Liberty (W.Va.) University, serving as a team tri-captain in 1986 and winning first team NAIA All-Academic honors in 1987. He is a 1987 graduate with a degree in exercise physiology.

Marotti and his wife, the former Susan Laffey, have a teen-age son and daughter, Mitchell and Madison.

1ST SEASON


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FOOTBALL SUPPORT STAFF

Kirk Barton Graduate Assistant Coach

Brad BertaniAssistant AD, Compliance

Dr. Jim Borchers Team Physician

Deb Broeker Administrative Office Associate

Doug Calland Head Athletics Trainer

Rick Court Assoc. Dir., FB Strength and Conditioning

Greg Gillum Director, High School Relations

Matt Groom Graduate Assistant Coach

Amy Halpin Coord., FB Admin. & Special Events

Kristin Holbrook Physical Therapist

Stan Jefferson Assoc. Director, Player Development

Dr. Chris KaedingHead Team Physician

Rob Lachey Manager, Athletics Equipment

Fernando Lovo FB Operations Coordinator

Bill Moffitt Assistant Building Coordinator, WHAC

Darrell Mayne Academic Counselor

Kenny ParkerAsst. Strength and Conditioning Coach

Sean Perkins Building Services Coordinator

Dr. Ray Pongonis Team Physician

Mark Quisenberry Video Coordinator

Larry Romanoff External Relations

Anthony Schlegel Asst. Strength and Conditioning Coach

Shannon Smith Administrative Associate

Bob Sweeney Athletic Trainer

Mike Sypniak Assistant Athletics Trainer

Jeff Uhlenhake Asst. Strength and Conditioning Coach

Lewis VanHoose Equipment Manager

Brian Voltolini Director of Football Operations

Sarah WickTeam Dietition & Nutritionist

Dana BlountAcademic Counselor

David Graham Asst. Provost, Student-Athlete Success

Drew Mehringer Graduate Assistant Coach

John Macko Senior Academic Counselor

Mark Pantoni Director of Player Personnel

David TrichelDirector, Video Post Production

Documents

HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER - Ohio State · PDF fileAfter graduating from Saint John High School in Ashtabula, ... He matriculated to Cincinnati and played defensive back for the ... HEAD