Last year, Urban Meyer had Tom Herman plucked off his staff.

This year, Meyer might lose another one of his top assistants. And this time, he could potentially have to face him on a yearly basis.

Fox Sports college football insider Bruce Feldman reported on Wednesday that Rutgers is pursuing Ohio State defensive coordinator Chris Ash to fill its its head coach vacancy.

Rutgers fired football coach Kyle Flood and athletics director Julie Hermann on Sunday following the team’s collapse in the regular-season finale against Maryland. In addition to the team’s 4-8 record, the program also had several arrests and suspensions, including one to Flood for having impermissible contact with a university professor.

RELATED: Rutgers fires Kyle Flood, AD Julie Hermann

Ash, on the other hand, was at the helm of a defense that saw nothing but success in his two years in Columbus. The Buckeyes finished in the top 10 in total defense this year while Rutgers ranked 112th. A defensive mind like Ash would certainly help the Scarlet Knights turn that number around.

Rutgers did have its AD in the waiting in Patrick Hobbs, who will be making his first major decision on the job. If he could land a guy like Ash, he would be getting someone with no shortage of B1G experience having also served as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator.

According to Feldman’s sources, Ash is was also being pursued by Syracuse for the same position. But according to USA Today’s Dan Wolken, he pulled out of the running for the job.

No interviews have been reported yet, but it might not be long before the Buckeye assistant gets his crack at a head coaching job.