Big Ten coaching carousel has some late movement, Chip Kelly out at UCLA

There was some key movement this week at several schools in the soon-to-be Big Ten Conference.

On Saturday, it was announced that UCLA Head Coach Chip Kelly decided to abandon the Bruins for greener pastures working for Ryan Day and taking a demotion to offensive coordinator at Ohio State.  

The move makes sense for Kelly and should put a jolt into the offensive output of Ohio State moving forward. Kelly is an offensive mind and could honestly be better suited to the role.

When he was with the Ducks, he changed the tempo and changed the game. He had opportunities and took them landing in the NFL with Philadelphia and San Francisco, but ultimately returning to the college game.  

There is a comfort level between Kelly and Day that could lead to solid success. Both have worked with each other. Day was one of Kelly’s players at New Hampshire and they also worked together in the NFL together when Chip was with the Eagles and 49ers.  

A second move was made this week in the Big Ten that I noticed. former New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale decided to leave the NFL and join the staff at Michigan as defensive coordinator for the Wolverines.  

Oregon will see both Michigan and Ohio State in 2024 on the football field. There is a growing list of former coaches that the Ducks will run into including Johnathan Stewart who is now head coach at Michigan State.

Kelly will visit Autzen with Ohio State and the Ducks will visit Michigan during the season.  

One other area to watch, with Chip Kelly departing UCLA, the transfer portal is open for 30 days for Bruins players who want to have a change of scenery and a fresh start.  

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