COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 11: Head Coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches his team play against the Miami Hurricanes at Ohio Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
On Thursday, Ohio State hired staff member James Laurinaitis as a full-time linebackers coach, fulfilling a long-held dream.
The former Buckeye and three-time All-American worked as a graduate assistant for Notre Dame the year before, having served in the same capacity there the year before. Laurinaitis will take over the position that was left vacant by special teams coordinator Parker Fleming’s departure.Although Jim Knowles will be able to concentrate entirely on his role as defensive coordinator with a full-time linebackers coach, Laurinaitis may have an even greater influence on the Buckeyes off the field than on it.
With Ohio State right now, Laurinaitis is one of ten traveling assistants. He can therefore go out and try to recruit linebackers to Columbus during certain recruiting windows, such as those that occur before to National Signing Day 2017. It is crucial to have a coach with the experience of Laurinaitis, who was an NFL player and an Ohio State player.He has been instrumental in recruiting in the past, most notably in bringing 2025 commit Eli Lee and 2024 signee Payton Pierce, who was formerly a Notre Dame lean, to Columbus. He will now resume his full-time recruiting efforts and ought to be able to attract additional players of that type.
