It looks like a good move so far.
How Matt Patricia became Ohio State's defensive coordinator after Jim Knowles decision originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Ohio State Buckeyes lost their incredible defensive coordinator over the offseason.
That's because Jim Knowles opted to leave OSU to go hold the same job at Penn State, quite the shocking move with the potential to shake up the Big Ten.
Ohio State found a good solution, though. His name: Matt Patricia.
Patricia's name is surely familiar to NFL fans, and he started trending again in Week 1 of the college football season as the Buckeyes gave Texas QB Arch Manning fits.
How Matt Patricia got to Ohio State
Matt Patricia is best known for his time with the New England Patriots.
He served 15 seasons as an assistant with the Pats. He won two Super Bowl rings during his time there as defensive coordinator.
He also spent three seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Lions in the NFL.
Patricia's football career dates to his college days at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute outside of Albany, New York, after growing up in Sherrill, N.Y.
After leaving the Patriots in 2022, he went to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was a senior defensive assistant.
His contract was not renewed after the 2023 season.
Patricia wasn't on an official football staff in 2024.
On Feb. 20, 2025, Patricia was hired at Ohio State to replace Knowles.
It's his first college coaching stint since he was a graduate assistant at Syracuse from 2001-03.
It'll be up to him to try to help Ohio State repeat as national champions.
Category: General Sports
