'What I Wanted To Do!' Chip Kelly Opens Up About Joining Ohio State

When it came down to it, new Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Chip Kelly just wanted to coach football.
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Chip Kelly shocked the football world when he left the head coaching position for the UCLA Bruins to join the Ohio State Buckeyes as the team's new offensive coordinator.

It was such an unprecedented move, that Kelly was panned by Los Angeles media, as well as some national pundits for his decision.

However, at the end of the day, it was Kelly's choice, and he made his own decision based on what he wanted to do with his career.

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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

"I was at a point in time where I could make a decision on what I wanted to do," Kelly told Pat McAfee. "I really enjoy coaching. I really enjoy being with the players. I really enjoy the relationships you have when you’re in the meeting room...The opportunity to come here and just coach football and not have to do the things that a head coach is asked to do now in college football appealed to me.”

It's no secret that Kelly wasn't a big fan of the current state of college football.

Unlike it was even a decade ago, not only are head coaches expected to maintain and run a program and to be out on the road recruiting for days and weeks at a time, but they also must compete in the NIL sphere and in the transfer portal. 

Chip Kelly Reveals Reason Behind Leaving UCLA For Ohio State

In fact, in many respects, being a head coach at the college level can entail more day-to-day work than that of an NFL coach.

Now, without the stresses of what comes with being a head coach, Kelly can get back to doing what he loves - calling an offense, and coaching quarterbacks.

"I’m excited to just do my job," Kelly said. "I don’t need to do anything else. I don’t need to do the other things that a head coach needs to do. I just get to coach quarterbacks and be with them every day. This group of quarterbacks we have here is awesome."


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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com, AllAggies.com, and the Managing Editor of BuckeyesNow.com and TheGroveReport.com He is also the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com and TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com