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Report: Ohio State, defensive assistant to part ways
Published:
Kerry Coombs’ return to Ohio State is reportedly coming to an end. According to a report from Bucknuts, the two sides have decided to part ways now that the 2021 season is over.
Per the report, there was interest in both sides for Coombs to stay with the Buckeyes in some capacity, but it would have been in a different role. The news of the departure comes shortly after Ohio State was reportedly close to hiring Cincinnati cornerbacks coach Perry Eliano to be the next safeties coach.
Coombs was in his second stint with Ohio State, initially coming to Columbus as part of Urban Meyer’s staff in 2012. He was the cornerbacks coach for the Buckeyes from 2012-16 and added co-defensive coordinator to his title in 2017.
In his return to Columbus in 2020, Coombs was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. However, Ryan Day shuffled the staff around early in the 2021 season after poor defensive performances from the Buckeyes.
Matt Wells was named interim defensive coordinator and Coombs’ role diminished for the remainder of the year.
Prior to his return to Ohio State, Coombs spent two years in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans. He was a defensive backs coach on Mike Vrabel’s staff.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB