Ohio State taps pair of Penn State football connections for its staff

Last week, Penn State football made headlines by hiring away defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State. This week, it’s the Buckeyes’ turn, adding two coaches with Nittany Lions ties to their on-field staff.

On Wednesday, Ohio State made a series of offensive hires following Chip Kelly’s decision to leave Columbus for the Las Vegas Raiders. While Ryan Day chose to promote receivers coach Brian Hartline to its coordinator role, several other hires tie directly back to James Franklin and the Nittany Lions.

Former tight ends coach Tyler Bowen is expected to become the Buckeyes’ new offensive line coach. Bowen will replace Justin Frye, who joined the Arizona Cardinals earlier this offseason.

Ohio State is targeting Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen for its offensive line coach job, a source tells @CBSSports/@247Sports.

Before VT, he was tight ends coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars and co-OC and tight ends coach at Penn State. (@FootballScoop 1st).… pic.twitter.com/1SIlQlnqCk

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 5, 2025

Since leaving Happy Valley following the 2020 season, Bowen spent one year coaching the tight ends for the Jacksonville Jaguars and three seasons as offensive coordinator for Brent Pry at Virginia Tech.

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At quarterback, Ohio State is turning to former Penn State football walk-on Billy Fessler. The Erie native spent 2024 as an offensive analyst for the Buckeyes after following Chip Kelly from UCLA last offseason.

Ohio State is expected to name Billy Fessler as its new quarterbacks coach, sources tell @cbssports/@247Sports.

Fessler, a rising star figure in the coaching world, was a coaching assistant at Ohio State this season after serving as an OC at UCLA and Akron.… pic.twitter.com/pA4ZhYU9Dv

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 5, 2025

A graduate assistant at Ohio State in 2020, Fessler has spent most of his early coaching career alongside former Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead in roles at Mississippi State and Akron.

Penn State football will travel to Columbus on November 1, looking to avenge its lone regular season loss in 2024.

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