Ohio State Hires Nebraska's Mike Dawson As Defensive Analyst

Mike Dawson joins a Buckeyes' staff after spending four of his last five seasons working for Nebraksa.

Ryan Day is headed back to his past to find his next defensive analyst at Ohio State for the 2023 season. 

According to On3 Sports, the Buckeyes will hire Mike Dawson for the upcoming season. Dawson spent four of the past five seasons at Nebraska, coaching various positions in the front seven, including defensive ends and linebackers.

Dawson also spent one season as outside linebackers coach for the New York Giants between stints in Lincoln. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as UCF’s defensive line coach.

The hiring of Dawson is one based on a personal relationship for Day. Back in 2002, the two first connected while on staff at New Hampshire. Dawson coached linebackers at the time, while Day coached tight ends in his first year in coaching.

The duo reunited when Frank Spaziani hired them to coach at Boston College. Both were members of the Eagles' staff from 2009-11. Day coached wide receivers, while Dawson coached special teams. They again crossed paths in 2015 with the Philadelphia Eagles during Chip Kelly's final season. Day was the quarterbacks coach, while Dawson was an assistant defensive line coach.

Dawson succeeds Matt Guerrieri, who initially left to join former OSU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson’s new staff at Tulsa. Several weeks later, Guerrieri agreed to become Indiana's co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach under Tom Allen. 

Dawson played his college ball at UMass from 1995-97. He also worked as a grad assistant at Maine and Pitt before being promoted full-time at New Hampshire. 

Dawson now joins a defensive staff that's trying to build on lackluster improvements over the past two seasons. Last season, Ohio State allowed 5.18 yards per play. Since 2020, the Buckeyes have allowed over 5.1 yards per play. Explosive plays have been the Achilles' heel of the program's flaws. Last season, the Buckeyes allowed 31 total touchdowns — 12 of which came on explosive plays. 

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