Coaching is more than X’s and O’s, especially in big-time college football. You don’t have to tell Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day that, he’s been in the job now entering his seventh year, and has seen a lot of changes, been criticized mightily, and come out the other side as a College Football Playoff national champion.
Along the way, he’s put in place programs on and off the field to help his players, especially as an advocate for mental illness and embracing social justice causes. It’s a lot, and there are a lot of sacrifices that come along with the job that can grind on anyone.
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So, with all of that in mind, why would anyone get into coaching, aside from the multi-million dollar paycheck that can happen to the elite? According to Day, while appearing on the Bobby Carpenter show, it’s not about him, but the kids in the program.
“Where do you find your purpose? And to me, and our staff, it has to be pouring into young people,” Day said … “We’re helping young people reach their dreams and goals. We’re standing on the stage (after winning the national championship), it had nothing to do with me, it had to do with everybody else, because it took everybody … it took former players, it took everybody that was flying across the country. It took everybody at home that were sending good vibes through the TV — it was everybody that helped in recruiting — everybody involved because it comes down to helping these young people reach their dreams and goals, and that’s why you get into coaching.”
It’s hard to argue with that, and one of the things I respect the most about Day is how he took the high road on all the criticism and vitriol he received from fans and the media over the last few years. Now that he’s brought home the ultimate prize — something many said he’d never do — maybe those things he does off the field will get even more attention.
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It’s instances like these where Buckeye Nation should be thankful for who it has running the program right now.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football coach Ryan Day talks on his purpose for coaching
