Chip Kelly made a surprising move by departing from his head-coaching position at UCLA to take on the role of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ohio State. This decision marked a rare occurrence in which a head coach voluntarily transitioned to an assistant position.
Kelly, who was set to embark on his seventh season at the helm of the Bruins, opted to join Ryan Day’s coaching staff for the upcoming season.
In a recent statement, Kelly shed light on the factors that influenced his choice to join the Buckeyes, citing a pivotal moment during the bowl game against Boise State when he temporarily assumed the role of coaching the quarterbacks. This experience reignited his passion for coaching a specific position, something he hadn’t done since 2008.
“After coaching the quarterbacks during the bowl game, I realized how much I missed coaching a specific position,” Kelly explained. “My wife noticed a change in my demeanor, noting that she hadn’t seen me this happy in a long time.
For me, the pure joy of football lies in coaching, and I wanted to return to that aspect of the game without the administrative responsibilities of being a head coach.”
Following the bowl game, as the recruiting season approached, Kelly reflected on the prospect of serving as an assistant coach once more.
“I began exploring potential opportunities to transition into an assistant coaching role,” Kelly said. “However, it was crucial for me to find the right fit—a place where I could focus solely on coaching and reconnect with a specific group of players.”
Kelly’s coaching journey has predominantly featured head coaching roles since 2009, encompassing stints at Oregon, UCLA, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers. His last assistant coaching role dates back to 2008 when he served as the offensive coordinator for Oregon.
In light of the evolving landscape of college football, particularly in recruiting, it appears that Kelly sought to prioritize his fulfillment by returning to a coaching position.
“I simply want to find joy in what I do,” Kelly emphasized. “Coaching a position brings me immense happiness, and I am thrilled to embark on this new chapter at Ohio State. While it was difficult to leave UCLA, where I had developed strong bonds with both players and staff, the opportunity to work alongside Ryan Day, whom I’ve known since his childhood, felt like the perfect fit.”
