The Ohio State football team made the decision to hire Matt Patricia as the defensive coordinator once Jim Knowles decided to leave for Penn State. Knowles made a terrible decision, and now he might be looking for a new job already. Meanwhile, Patricia has thrived.
With Patricia calling the defense, the Ohio State Buckeyes have the best defense in the country. They lead the nation in points per game, yards allowed per game, and passing yards allowed per game. He has completely transformed the defense, making them even better from last year.
Ohio State's defense was a large reason why they won the national championship last season. Now, the Buckeyes are hoping the same can be true. Patricia is now getting rewarded for the work he has done with Ohio State, being named a finalist for the Broyles Award.
Ohio State defensive coach Matt Patricia named finalist for Broyles Award
Patricia is a finalist for the trophy given to the best assistant coach in the country. He certainly would deserve the award, especially since he was out of football last season. This is also the first time that he has been a dedicated defensive coordinator in seven years.
It's clear that Patricia can still coach a defense. He has done a very good job of keeping the defense playing at a high level, even after Knowles left for a rival school. The College Football Playoff will be a different level, so the defense has to be elite if Ohio State is going to win back-to-back titles.
Right now, it looks like the Buckeyes will have Patricia on staff next year, as well. The only reason they wouldn't is if Patricia gets a call to go back to the NFL. His players love him; he actually goes out and recruits, and the results speak for themselves. He has turned out to be an excellent hire.