[OT] Temple's DC Taver Johnson to Ohio State to replace CB coach Kerry Coombs

Submitted by BoFlex on

As the title says, current Temple Owls DC Taver Johnson has accepted a position on Ohio State's coaching staff. The vacancy was recently created when former CB coach Kerry Coombs left to join the Tenneesee Titans's staff:

 

SOURCE: DC Taver Johnson has left #Temple... He is expected to take.a job on the #OhioState staff. He would become the second defensive coordinator the Buckeyes have added (along with Alex Grinch) this winter in addition to retaining DC Greg Schiano.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 12, 2018

Johnson was previously the DB coach at Ohio State during 2007-2011 where he coached Kurt Coleman, Chimdi Chekwa, Bradley Roby and former Thrope Award winner Malcolm Jenkins.

Scarlatina

February 13th, 2018 at 7:42 AM ^

I’m interested to see how Urban splits the coaching duties. Schiano, Grinch and Taver Johnson all have significant experience coaching the secondary, and one of them will also have to take over Coombs’ role as special teams coordinator. However, I am excited to have Taver Johnson back because that 2008 secondary was one of my favorite units of all-time (Jenkins, Chekwa, Russell, and Coleman).

ak47

February 13th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^

I would prefer a guy who has coached in college above the graduate assistant level, has proved he can recruit, has a proven ability to be flexible in an offensive philosophy that isn't too complicated for the college game and didn't get fired for throwing his players under the bus. The last thing this team needs is another guy calling plays, it needs a young hungry wr coach, who has actually shown an ability to develop wr's and recruit.

clarkiefromcanada

February 13th, 2018 at 8:11 AM ^

As a Temple grad I follow Owls football closely. I was not particularly impressed with Johnsons work with an experienced roster vs. His predecessor former Lions coach Phil Snow. Johnsons scheme played a big part in a couple of losses last year, IMO. Probably a very solid position coach and recruiter. FWIW, I'm hearing the Owls are looking at former Owl/Chief/NFL assistant Kevin Ross to fill the role. I'm good with that.

Farnn

February 13th, 2018 at 8:21 AM ^

Just looked up his career trajectory, which has been kind of weird.  Went from OSU DB coach to Arkansas DB  to Purdue DB coach before getting the DC job at Temple.  Don't know much about Temple personel but they got 20 spots worse in S&P+ under him.  But just because he wasn't great as a DC, doesn't mean he isn't a solid DB coach and recruiter.  Though it does look like a step down from Coombs.

andrewgr

February 13th, 2018 at 1:35 PM ^

His trajectory makes a little more sense when you factor in that he followed Darrell Hazell from Arkansas to Purdue and then Hazell wasn't able to deliver.  If Hazell had succeeded at Purdue, it would have been a great stepping stone for Johnson.

He's not going anywhere DC duties, he's being brought in as the DB position coach and to recruit.  He has strong ties to the Cincinnati area, which is where Coombs excelled.  

He might be a sleight step down from Coombs at either the coaching side of it or the recruiting side of it, but I think there's a pretty decent chance that he'll be basically comparable at both.  I think it's a solid hire, but of course losing Coombs hurts, since he supplied a great deal of energy to the whole team in addition to being a well above average coach and recruiter.