Ohio State: Chip Kelly breaks silence on leaving UCLA for Buckeyes OC job.

It was a surprise to many when Chip Kelly stepped down as UCLA head coach to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State in February. It’s rare for head coaches to take a downgrade, even with a “better” program, but Kelly did just that when the Bruins elected to keep him despite a campaign from UCLA football fans to dismiss Kelly.

Kelly addressed the media on Tuesday amid spring practices for the Buckeyes. He claimed that prioritizing his happiness for coaching was a big factor in taking his current post.

“…I just wanted to be happy, and I’m really happy coaching positions. Really thrilled to be at this place,” Kelly said, per On3’s Nick Kosko. “You know, it would have taken a special place for me to leave UCLA because I love those players and I love that coaching staff but to be here with Ryan, who I have a great relationship. I’ve known Ryan since he was a tiny kid. So I believe a lot of things simply fell into place.”

Kelly spent his last 14 seasons of coaching as a head coach at the college and professional ranks. He noted the changing landscape of college football, with NIL deals and the transfer portal basically taking over the sport, as another reason why he fell out of love with being a head coach.

“…I think as a head coach, you sit in position meetings, but then you’re always getting pulled out. And there’s other things that are associated with being a head coach, and I think it’s more of a CEO operation right now. You know, it’s the job in the landscape as we all know of college football has changed.”

New Hampshire link lands Buckeyes a new OC

Chip Kelly’s familiarity with Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day helped the Buckeyes persuade Kelly to join the coaching staff. Kelly helped recruit Day to the University of New Hampshire while he was the offensive coordinator. They also both attended the same high school, graduating 16 years apart.

Day coached under Kelly for two seasons in 2015 and 2016 while Kelly was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers. Day was the quarterbacks coach in both occasions.

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