Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs and linebackers coach Al Washington will not return in 2022. Buckeye Scoop can confirm that both coaches were informed of their dismissal on Thursday.
The news of the two departures was first reported by Lettermen Row.
Coombs first arrived at Ohio State in 2012 as Urban Meyer’s second choice as cornerbacks coach, but it quickly turned out to be the correct choice. Coombs produced a number of first-round cornerbacks in his first stint at OSU, which lasted six years.
Coombs left after the 2017 season and coached with the Tennessee Titans for two years before returning to Ohio State in 2020 as the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator. These last two seasons did not go as planned for the Ohio State defense and Coombs saw his playcalling duties stripped early in the 2021 season and given to now departed secondary coach Matt Barnes.
Washington came to Ohio State from Michigan as part of Ryan Day’s first staff as the Buckeyes’ head coach in 2019. The linebackers have been a bit of an adventure during Washington’s three-year tenure, and after a strong 2020 season, the position took a step back in 2021 following the departure of four seniors.
With Coombs and Washington now out, the Buckeyes are sitting at nine assistant coaches, giving them room to add another. On Thursday, news broke that Day was hiring Cincinnati cornerbacks coach Perry Eliano. Expect Day to add one more coach to the secondary in the coming days — or hours.