The Ohio State football program develops players and coaches at an elite level. Just this offseason, Brian Hartline left the Buckeyes to become the head coach at USF. He is the only coach to leave the Ohio State Buckeyes this offseason, but he certainly isn't the only one to do so in recent years.
Last season, Chip Kelly left the Buckeyes to become the offensive coordinator for the Raiders. Ryan Day has built himself a pretty good coaching tree. That coaching tree includes Jeff Hafley, who was the defensive coordinator under Day in 2019 for one season.
After that year, Hafley left to become the head coach at Boston College. He left that position to become the defensive coordinator in Green Bay. Now, he has progressed all the way to the point that he has earned a head coaching job in the NFL.
Former Ohio State DC Jeff Hafley becomes head coach of the Miami Dolphins
After spending just two seasons as the Packers' defensive coordinator, Hafley has now been hired to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Hafley is just 46 years old, so this is a pretty early age for him to get his first head coaching gig in the NFL. He has certainly earned it, though.
The Buckeyes would have loved it if Hafley had stayed in Columbus for a few more years. He was certainly a bright young coach under Day. Now, he becomes the first coach that Day has had underneath him to earn a head coaching job in the NFL. Kelly doesn't count since he had his NFL opportunities long before Day was a head coach.
This is a great recruiting tool that Day can use for young players. If they want to get developed by coordinators who could potentially be coaching at the highest level of football, coming to Ohio State is an easy choice. Day will certainly be rooting for Hafley at the next level.