Ohio State’s Ryan Day talks extension, expectations for ’22

Once you go 34-4 in your first three seasons as a head coach, chances are high you are going to be rewarded.

That’s precisely what occurred with Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who acquired a two-year contract extension final week. Day’s new contract will run by the 2028 season and put him among the many nation’s highest-paid faculty soccer coaches. 

Day’s whole compensation will improve from $7.6 million to $9.5 million yearly, with a base wage of $2 million per 12 months. He joins Alabama’s Nick Saban, USC’s Lincoln Riley, LSU’s Brian Kelly and Michigan State’s Mel Tucker as the one coaches set to make greater than $9 million per 12 months.

The Buckeyes’ head coach made an look on 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday to debate a wide range of matters, together with his current extension.

“That is clearly an exquisite place, and like I’ve stated earlier than, I need to be right here so long as I presumably can,” Day stated. “Our household loves Columbus, so we’re simply very blessed and grateful for making one thing like this potential.”

Day, who was named the Buckeyes’ head coach following City Meyer’s departure after the 2018 season, has led OSU to a powerful 23-1 mark in Massive Ten play, which features a pair of convention titles in 2019 and 2020 and two appearances within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. The Buckeyes have completed ranked within the high six within the AP Polls in every of Day’s three seasons on the helm.

Ohio State is ready to enter the 2022 faculty soccer season with huge expectations. Regardless of dropping a pair of first-round NFL draft choices in large receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, the Buckeyes ought to nonetheless function an explosive offense this season, led by Heisman hopeful C.J. Stroud.

“Right now final 12 months, he hadn’t thrown a university move after which went on to play some actually, actually good soccer because the season went on,” Day stated of Stroud. “However simply because he did it final 12 months doesn’t imply it’s simply going to occur this 12 months. … He’s going to must carry it proper from the soar, and there is a lot that comes with that.”

Stroud and the Buckeyes are set to open the 2022 season in opposition to Notre Dame on Sept. 3 on the Horseshoe in what will likely be one of many most-anticipated video games of the faculty soccer season.

“At Ohio State, we now have to win each recreation,” Day stated. “You possibly can’t abruptly put a lot into one after which lay an egg the subsequent week.

“However that being stated, we’re speaking a few top-10 matchup, night time recreation at residence. It’s going to be an unbelievable environment, a number of emotion. We’ll be throughout this .… It’s an excellent crew, nice program, superb teaching workers. Massive problem, so we’re going to work all summer time to verify we’re ready to play our greatest soccer in that recreation.”