The Ohio State football team is looking for a much quieter Spring practice session this year. They are hoping to just improve as a team and get ready to defend their national championship. Last year, the essentially had to replace two coaches while they were in the middle of workouts.
Bill O'Brien left to become the head coach of Boston College, which is understandable. He left for a promotion. O'Brien also left right before Spring practice, not during it. Ryan Day replaced him with Chip Kelly and helped reinvent the offense. Kelly really helped change the trajectory of the offense, even though he was in Columbus for just one year.
Tony Alford, meanwhile, didn't leave for a promotion. He left to be the running backs coach at Michigan and did so while Spring practice was going on. He betrayed the Buckeyes and went to their arch-rival. It ended up working out great for the Buckeyes and not so great for Alford.
Tony Alford leaving the Ohio State football program worked out for the Buckeyes
Alford left the Buckeyes for TTUN and ended up coaching a team that went 6-6 in the regular season. While they did beat Ohio State, they didn't play any meaningful football after that. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes went on to win the national championship.
Not only did they win a national title, but they hired someone who is better at his job than Alford. Carlos Locklyn has been outstanding in his first full year as Ohio State's running backs coach. He was hired away from Oregon and has done a good job on the recruiting trail and developing backs on the field.
It seems that Alford's decision worked out perfectly for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes now have someone who is a great recruiter and is great at player development. Alford's coaching had slipped in the last couple of years, so it has been great to get a new voice in Columbus.
Ohio State loves Locklyn. Alford seems content at Michigan. It seems that this decision worked out for everyone involved, but it's clear Ohio State won that transaction.