Urban Meyer reveals his stance on Ohio State hiring Arthur Smith

by: Steve Samra 9 hours ago SamraSource

Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer believes the Buckeyes’ decision to hire Arthur Smith as their new offensive coordinator reflects how dramatically college football has changed. It also shows why NFL experience now carries more value than ever at the highest level.

Speaking on The Triple Option , Meyer said there was once a time when hiring an NFL assistant would have been viewed as risky. Particularly, at a program like Ohio State, where recruiting once consumed the majority of a coach’s responsibilities. According to Meyer, that era is over.

“Back in the day, you never really went that direction, because a good percentage of your job was recruiting,” Meyer stated. “NFL guys never recruited. At places like Ohio State, you can’t train people to recruit. You better have experience. But those days are long gone.”

Continuing, Meyer explained that modern college football has blurred the lines between the college and professional game, particularly at blue-blood programs. Coordinators are no longer expected to recruit on the road, instead functioning almost exclusively as scheme designers and play callers, roles that closely mirror the NFL.

“Now, they’re not even going to recruit,” Meyer added. “The coordinators don’t go on the road. They are full-time — they’re no different than the NFL.”

Financial constraints, another historical obstacle to hiring NFL coaches, have also vanished in Meyer’s view. With salary pools no longer limiting top programs, schools like Ohio State can simply identify their target and make the money work. 

“There are no salary pools,” Meyer explained. “You just go hire whoever you want to hire. They’re going to find the money.”

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