“Al Washington is going to be a terrific addition to our coaching staff,” Day said via a team release. “I’ve known him as player and as a coach and I know his family very well. I think his familiarity with this region as a coach and as a recruiter is going to be very impactful, as will his leadership with our linebackers unit.”
The announcement came shortly after Bill Davis, who coached Ohio State linebackers the last two seasons, revealed his intention to pursue a job in the NFL.
Thank you, Buckeye Nation. pic.twitter.com/ZLIFxwV7wH
— Bill Davis (@CoachBillDavis) January 8, 2019
**INITIAL REPORT**
Ryan Day seems to be embracing the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.
The new coach of the Buckeyes reportedly has raided the Wolverines staff for a second time this week, this time hiring away linebackers coach Al Washington.
Sources: #Buckeyes set to add Michigan linebackers coach Al Washington to coaching staff: https://t.co/eBV6X8ndNH
— Marc Givler (@MarcGivlerBG) January 8, 2019
A Columbus native, Washington is an 11-year coaching veteran who spent 2012-16 at Boston College, his alma mater.
Washington was the defensive line coach at Cincinnati under Luke Fickell in 2017 and spent just one season in Ann Arbor.
Day and Washington worked together at BC for two seasons while Day was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Chestnut Hill.
Alabama's flop reminiscent of a certain Ohio State season and many more random thoughts https://t.co/QP6rU8JcgI
— Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) January 8, 2019
Washington coached running backs for three years at BC but has otherwise spent his coaching career on the defensive side of the ball.
The move comes one day after Day hired Michigan defensive line coach Greg Mattison, who is set to share defensive coordinator duties with Jeff Hafley.
Greg Schiano, the primary defensive coordinator for the last two seasons in Columbus, has decided to pursue an NFL job according to Day.
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