by: Sam Gillenwater 5 hours ago samdg_33
With how many jobs are already open, and those that will continue to keep opening on this carousel, names you wouldn’t expect are going to come up as these searches all continue. That could lead some schools to consider options they never planned on beforehand, including one referenced by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
On the ‘College GameDay Podcast’ on Wednesday, Thamel noted that this could end up being a big cycle for assistants and coordinators to get head coaching jobs. Among those he named was Ohio State’s Matt Patricia, the first-year defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes, considering his resumé as well as the work he has done so far through just a couple of months there and in seven games with that unit in Columbus.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Matt Patricia ends up in one of these searches,” Thamel suggested. “That’s an instinct thing. But, like, he’s been a revelatory coordinator. In that building, they have loved Matt Patrica – loved him, loved him, loved him. His personality, his connection with players. You know, schematically? It’s been historically good. Interpersonally, it’s been unbelievable.”