In recent years, he promoted Keenan Bailey and Laurinatis to full-time jobs, and they have thrived. Bailey, who just wrapped up his second year as Ohio State’s tight ends coach, has revamped that entire position after Cade Stover left.

Ohio State is finalizing a deal to hire former NFL coach Matt Patricia as its new defensive coordinator, ESPN reports. The Buckeyes had been searching for a replacement after Jim Knowles departed for the same role at Penn State.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the reigning national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, are finalizing a deal to make Patricia their new defensive coordinator. The move comes in the wake of former assistant Jim Knowles leaving the program to coach defense for Penn State.