Ohio State introduced Ryan Day as the 25th coach in Buckeyes football history on Tuesday, while also announcing Urban Meyer will coach through the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Day thanked Meyer, whose tenure will end after seven seasons, and Meyer’s wife Shelley in his opening comments during a press conference at the Fawcett Center on campus.
“I can’t put words into what you’ve done for me and my family,” Day said. “I’ve learned so much from you on a daily basis and will forever be in debt to you. Your legacy will live on forever. You can now sit in the box and yell at us for either going for it or not going for it on fourth down. I want to thank my family back home in Manchester, N.H. I’ve got a lot of them. That’s where (Christina) and I both grew up, and without them, none of this would be possible.”
» MORE COVERAGE: Five highlights of Meyer’s career | Comparing Meyer to other OSU coaches | Meyer in photos through the years | Social media reaction | Who is Ryan Day? | Meyer by the numbers
Day, 39, signed a five-year contract that will pay him $4.5 million per year. He’s in his second season with the program. He served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach this season. This will be his first head coaching job.
Day will replace a coach who has won three national championships — one with Ohio State in 2014 — and compiled an 82-9 record.
Ryan Day, being introduced right now as Urban Meyer’s successor, on Ohio State’s goals every season: “No. 1, win the rivalry game. No. 2, win every game after that.” pic.twitter.com/bZ0910jVDZ
— David Jablonski (@DavidPJablonski) December 4, 2018
Gene Smith on Ryan Day: “He’s got to win games. He knows that.” pic.twitter.com/2cKEWB7o4b
— David Jablonski (@DavidPJablonski) December 4, 2018
About the Author