Buckeyes LB coach says return to Columbus was best move, still has aspirations to be DC, head coach
Al Washington was a candidate to take a job on Tennessee’s new staff during the offseason. He was a strong candidate for Josh Heupel to fill the role of defensive coordinator.
After considering his options, though, the Ohio State linebackers coach decided to return to Columbus for at least another year. On Thursday, Washington told reporters that it was the best opportunity, but he still has a goal to become a defensive coordinator and eventually become a head coach.
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Washington believes that coaching at such a high level at Ohio State will yield plenty of other opportunities in the future.
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Al Washington confirmed he has aspirations to be a defensive coordinator and a head coach in the future, but he felt that staying at Ohio State was the best decision for him right now. He's confident that will lead him to those opportunities down the road.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) March 25, 2021
Washington has been coaching for over a decade now, primarily in a position group role. He’s been at Ohio State since 2019, leaving Michigan in 2018 for the job in Columbus. He’s also had stops at Cincinnati (2017), Boston College (2012-16), Elon (2011), Slippery Rock (2009-10) and NC State (2008).
Though he’s been on the sidelines for awhile, Washington is still a young coach at 36. And with the Buckeyes linebackers playing so well the past two seasons, he’ll certainly get more opportunities in the future.
For now, though, Washington’s primary focus is coaching at Ohio State in 2021 and winning another B1G title.
