Greg Schiano: ‘I’m excited about the future at Ohio State’

Schiano has been the subject of scrutiny with OSU opponents putting up historically huge defensive numbers in 2018.

SEASON IN REVIEW: Defense disappoints | Offense soars 

Questions about his future became more intense with the news Ryan Day will replace Urban Meyer as head coach of the Buckeyes after the Rose Bowl.

“I don’t worry about that,” Schiano said during a media availability in downtown Los Angeles to preview the Jan. 1 matchup with Washington. “God’s got a plan for me, for my family as well as Ohio State and the whole institution.

“I’m excited about the future of Ohio State. We’re gonna see where that all — after the game is when we’ll talk about all that stuff. I’m not overly concerned with any of it. I think Ohio State is in great position. Coach Meyer has developed a tremendous culture and coach Day is I know going to put his stamp on it but the makings of a long-term success are in place.”

Schiano is in his third season at Ohio State.

He shared defensive coordinator duties with Luke Fickell in 2016 when the Buckeyes finished third in the nation in scoring defense (15.5 points per game) and sixth in yards allowed per game (296.8).

Fickell left to become head coach at Cincinnati following that season, but the defense remained a strength in 2017, tying for 15th in the country at 19.0 points per game and finishing ninth in total defense (300.9).

The unit fell off a cliff this season, though as an inability to stop big plays dropped the Buckeyes to 54th in scoring (25.7 ppg.) and 67th in total defense (400.3), both worst in Ohio State history.

A New Jersey native who made his name as head coach at Rutgers before a failed stint as the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he said he would like to stay with the Buckeyes.

“I love being here,” Schiano said. "My family lives being here, but any time there’s a coaching change, whether it is internal or not, the head coach has to select the staff he feels gives the team the best chance to win and whatever coach Day decides to do is certainly his prerogative.”