Ohio State football: Kerry Coombs explains how he handled demotion

After Ohio State head coach Ryan Day essentially demoted his defensive coordinator by taking defensive play-calling duties from him and giving them to Matt Barnes a month ago, Coombs could have refused the new assignment.

Or he could have done it but half-heartedly, without his signature energy and positive attitude.

Coombs, a University of Dayton grad who coached high school football in the Cincinnati area for more than 20 years before becoming a college assistant at the University of Cincinnati, thought that would be betraying his past, though.

“Picking up your ball and going home, kicking the can down the road, quitting, packing your packing your stuff up, being a miserable human being — if I had done those things, that would make me a liar to every one of those young men that I’ve coached along the way that had tough times that got replaced on a given Saturday or Friday night, or a Sunday afternoon, and had to have the conversation with, ‘Hey, hang in there, it’s going to be okay,’” Coombs said Tuesday in his first interview since the coaching staff changes were made following a loss to Oregon in Week 2.

Coombs did not give the impression he agreed with Day’s decision, but he said he respects his boss and the tough tasks that come with being the head coach.

“What I would say is that is that is our job, and I can only control me and my response to things that happen in the world,” Coombs said. “This is the hardest thing that’s happened to me professionally, and if it’s the hardest thing that ever happens to me professionally, that’s pretty dang good.

“Ryan responded in the way that Ryan believed was best for the Ohio State, and that is absolutely 100% the head coach’s prerogative.”

Coombs praised Barnes, saying they had a great working relationship before and after the change was made, and he noted he has taken on some new tasks after the shakeup in duties.

Coombs coaches from the press box on game days now, something he said was his idea.

He misses the camaraderie on the sideline — hugging offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson isn’t the same as leaping to embrace a player in a big moment — but appreciates a new view of the game from high above.

The 60-year-old did not give any indication about what he might do next year but stressed the importance of focusing on the present — and remembering what he’s been saying all these years whether it was to Colerain Cardinals, Ohio State Buckeyes or Tennessee Titans.

“Whether they agreed with the decision or not doesn’t matter, you have to be able to battle and fight through,” Coombs said.

“Those players who battle and that struggle with public criticism and things that are out there in the world today, you if you want to look them in the eye and tell them, ‘Hey, you need to hang in there. Don’t accept criticism from somebody you wouldn’t accept advice from.’ If you’re not willing to stand up and do the same thing, then you’re a liar to all those people along life’s journey, and so I’m blessed to work here.

“I love those kids on this team. I love the men I work with and I love Ohio State, and I’m going to be here. I’m going to be fighting and battling and scratching and clawing for the remainder of this season to help us win every frickin Saturday. That’s what I’m going to do. And so whether or not I liked everything or how everything went — that’s got nothing to do with it. It’s got to do with you’ve got a job to do. You look people in the eye and you say this is how, and hopefully someday down the road some young man who had trouble, who faces trouble or adversity, can remember an example of a man who tried to lead with positive energy in the midst of adversity, and if I can do that then I will have accomplished my goal as long as we’re continuing to progress and win on Saturday afternoons.”

NEXT GAME

Saturday, Oct. 23

Ohio State at Indiana, 7:30 p.m., ABC, 1410