Ohio State Buckeye fans are eager to see what Chip Kelly brings to their offense in the 2024 season. The hiring of Kelly as offensive coordinator has generated considerable buzz, not just in Columbus, but across the college football landscape. But who is Chip Kelly, and what does his career trajectory tell us about his potential impact at Ohio State? This article dives into the comprehensive Chip Kelly Coaching Career, tracing his journey from a New Hampshire offensive coordinator to his current high-profile position with the Buckeyes.
Ryan Day’s decision to relinquish play-calling duties and bring in an experienced offensive mind like Kelly signals a significant shift for the Ohio State program. This move wasn’t just about adding a coordinator; it was about injecting new energy and a proven track record into an already potent offense. Kelly inherits an offense brimming with talent, including a new quarterback transfer, Will Howard, and high expectations for dominance in the Big Ten and national rankings.
Before arriving at Ohio State, Kelly’s name was synonymous with innovative, high-tempo offenses. His coaching journey began in the Ivy League and steadily climbed to the highest levels of college and professional football. To truly understand the excitement surrounding his arrival in Columbus, it’s crucial to examine the key milestones in the Chip Kelly coaching career.
The Rise at New Hampshire and Oregon: Building a Coaching Foundation
The early chapters of the Chip Kelly coaching career are rooted in New Hampshire. After assistant roles at Columbia and Johns Hopkins, Kelly returned to his alma mater, the University of New Hampshire, in 1992. He spent over a decade with the Wildcats, honing his offensive philosophies. Starting as running backs coach, he eventually ascended to offensive coordinator in 1999, a position he held until 2006. During this period, Kelly developed a reputation for his innovative offensive schemes and high-scoring offenses, laying the groundwork for his future success.
His breakthrough moment came in 2007 when he was named offensive coordinator at the University of Oregon. Working under head coach Mike Bellotti and then succeeding him in 2009, Kelly transformed the Ducks into a national powerhouse. His fast-paced, no-huddle offense revolutionized college football, leaving defenses scrambling and scoreboards lighting up. From 2009 to 2012, as head coach, Kelly’s Oregon teams boasted an impressive 46-7 record, secured three Pac-12 titles, and played for the BCS National Championship in 2010. This period cemented Kelly’s status as one of college football’s most innovative and successful coaches, significantly boosting his profile in the Chip Kelly coaching career.
NFL Ventures: Philadelphia and San Francisco
The college success propelled Kelly to the NFL. In 2013, he was hired as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. His first season in Philadelphia was promising, leading the Eagles to an NFC East title and a significant turnaround from the previous year. However, the NFL proved to be a different challenge. While his offensive schemes initially caught defenses off guard, opponents eventually adapted. After being fired by the Eagles in 2015, Kelly briefly coached the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 before returning to the college ranks. These NFL experiences, though not as successful as his Oregon tenure, added another dimension to the Chip Kelly coaching career, exposing him to the highest level of professional football and its strategic complexities.
UCLA Head Coach: Rebuilding and Revival
Returning to college football, Kelly took on the head coaching role at UCLA in 2018. His tenure with the Bruins was marked by a rebuilding process. After a slow start, UCLA showed consistent improvement, culminating in three consecutive seasons with at least eight wins from 2021-2023. This consistency demonstrated Kelly’s ability to rebuild a program and adapt his coaching style over time. Despite the progress, the allure of purely focusing on coaching the offense and the opportunity at a program like Ohio State proved too strong to resist, leading to the latest chapter in the Chip Kelly coaching career.
Ohio State Offensive Coordinator: A New Chapter
The move to Ohio State marks a fascinating turn in the Chip Kelly coaching career. For the first time since his early days at Oregon, Kelly will focus solely on offense, without the multifaceted responsibilities of a head coach. He explicitly cited his desire to return to the “best part of football” – coaching a position group directly – as a key motivator for the move. Rejoining forces with Ryan Day, whose relationship with Kelly dates back to Day’s playing days at New Hampshire where Kelly recruited and coached him, adds another layer of intrigue. Day has spoken highly of Kelly, emphasizing his offensive expertise and viewing him as a top target for the offensive coordinator position.
The pairing of Day and Kelly, two accomplished offensive minds, has the potential to create a dynamic and potent offensive force at Ohio State. As the 2024 season approaches, all eyes will be on how this new chapter in the Chip Kelly coaching career unfolds and the impact he will have on the Buckeye offense and the team’s pursuit of a national championship.
Chip Kelly Coaching Career Timeline:
- Columbia (1990): Freshman Team Defensive Backs/Special Teams Coach
- Columbia (1991): Varsity Team Outside Linebackers/Safety Coach
- New Hampshire (1992): Running Backs Coach
- Johns Hopkins (1993): Defensive Coordinator
- New Hampshire (1994-2006): Running Backs Coach (1994-96), Offensive Line Coach (1997-98), Offensive Coordinator (1999-2006)
- Oregon (2007-2012): Offensive Coordinator (2007-08), Head Coach (2009-2012)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2013-2015): Head Coach
- San Francisco 49ers (2016): Head Coach
- UCLA (2018-2023): Head Coach
- Ohio State (2024-Present): Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
