Eric Boggs
Ohio State is once again navigating staff turnover at a difficult point in the calendar, losing two assistant coaches whose roles mattered to both continuity and development. From a Buckeye perspective, the timing stings, even if the moves themselves reflect how respected Ohio State assistants remain across the country.
On the defensive side of the ball, Tony Washington Jr. is moving on after just one season in Columbus, accepting the defensive line coaching position at Kentucky, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Washington proved to be a valuable addition in his lone year with the Buckeyes, working closely under Larry Johnson and helping maintain the standard of play up front. He stepped into the role vacated when LaAllan Clark left for Texas last offseason and quickly became a trusted part of the defensive staff.
Washington arrived with an extensive and varied résumé. Prior to Ohio State, he coached outside linebackers and the defensive line at UCLA in 2024, after serving as Oregon’s outside linebackers coach in 2023, assistant defensive line coach in 2022, and Director of Player Development in 2021. Earlier stops included Nebraska, where he worked as a graduate assistant from 2019 to 2020. That Nebraska connection ties directly to his next chapter, as he previously worked with new Kentucky head coach Will Stein.
As a player, Washington was an Oregon linebacker from 2012 to 2015 and was part of the Ducks team that fell to Ohio State in the 2014 national championship game. He went on to spend time in the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans, playing in 2015 and 2016, and later with the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad before transitioning into coaching. A Los Angeles native, Washington’s rapid rise continues, even if Buckeye fans would have preferred to see him stay longer in Columbus.
Compounding the challenge for Ohio State is another departure on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive line assistant Marcus Johnson is also leaving the program to join Arkansas, a move first reported by CBS Sports. Johnson joined the Buckeyes this season under offensive line coach Tyler Bowen after spending two years as Purdue’s offensive line coach. His previous stops included Missouri, Duke, and Mississippi State, giving him deep experience at the Power Four level.
Johnson’s move back to the SEC is something of a homecoming. He played offensive line at Ole Miss from 2001 to 2004 before being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2005 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons in Minnesota and wrapped up his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009 before entering the coaching ranks.
From an Ohio State fan’s viewpoint, losing multiple assistants in quick succession is far from ideal, especially with the program already adjusting to Brian Hartline’s departure to USF. Still, these moves also underscore Ohio State’s status as a launching point for coaches ready to take the next step. The challenge now falls to Ryan Day and his staff to stabilize the rooms, redistribute responsibilities, and ensure that the Buckeyes’ standard doesn’t slip despite the churn.
