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Buckeyes' Bill Sheridan hired as defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay

bradley.321@osu.edu

Published: Thursday, February 16, 2012

Updated: Friday, February 17, 2012 16:02

Sheridan

Photo courtesy of the OSU Athletic Department

OSU defensive backs coach Bill Sheridan

And just like that, he was gone.

Bill Sheridan, defensive coach for Ohio State, and coach Urban Meyer's most recent hire, has accepted a job with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A source told The Lantern that Sheridan will be the new defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay under newly hired coach Greg Schiano.

Sheridan was Meyer's last hire on the team after former defensive backs coach Taver Johnson left for a coaching job at Arkansas.

A representative from the Buccaneers would neither confirm nor deny the hiring of Sheridan.

Jerry Emig, OSU athletic department spokesman, confirmed Sheridan was leaving the Buckeyes.

"It is my understanding that Bill Sheridan has elected to pursue other opportunities," Emig said.

As linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins last season, Sheridan's future was in doubt after coach Tony Sparano was fired in December. Sheridan began exploring other possible coaching options.

Sheridan has spent the last seven seasons coaching in the NFL. Along with coaching linebackers for the Dolphins the past two seasons, Sheridan served in the same capacity with the New York Giants from 2005-08, where he was a part of New York's Super Bowl victory in 2007.

He was promoted to defensive coordinator prior to the 2009 season but was fired at the end of the year.

In an interview with The Lantern, Sheridan said there was not much difference between coaching college football, and coaching in the NFL.

"The game itself, it's really not that different other than the age of the players," Sheridan said. "Having coached in the NFL for the last seven years, it's just seven more years of coaching experience … I don't think it would be dramatically different if I had coached in college for the seven years."

Multiple reports throughout the week confirmed Sheridan had interviewed for the Tampa Bay job on Wednesday.

Sheridan's OSU hiring was first reported by The Lantern on Jan. 25, and he departs the Buckeyes just about three weeks after he started.

Michael Periatt contributed to this story.

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15 comments

Anonymous
Mon Feb 20 2012 18:30
Amazing comments about Michigan recruiting over OSU. I suspect this is Michigan fan creeping into the Lantern. No one has signed for next year and we saw what happend with Urban with only recruting for 2012 for two months - he will get twenty top picks, and beat Michigan. The rest is all ballyho. Go Bucks !
Anonymous
Sun Feb 19 2012 12:00
I guess that should say below. "Above the comment box". He was nothing more than the DBs coach.

"Michigan is recruiting over OSU in their own state of Ohio. OSU could be in big trouble with Coach's already jumping ship." Congrats, Michigan pulled down some good players, the only ones OSU targeted were Shallman and Fox, and they weren't high on the recruiting board. Yay you took Taco Charlton, who didn't hold an OSU offer.

Good for Sheridan to get a promotion, it's not like you can go to your wife and say "sorry honey, I turned down a DC position to stay at OSU as a DBs coach..."

Anonymous
Sun Feb 19 2012 11:54
Almost all of the comments above are made by people without a single bit of intelligence. You're a college DBs coach, you're given the opportunity to go to coach and NFL defense. You take that every time. It's not a judge of character, if anything, he has great character, that higher positions want.
Anonymous
Sun Feb 19 2012 09:31
Florida's D coordinator turned down the same position. Great things happening at Florida and Michigan this weekend. Michigan is recruiting over OSU in their own state of Ohio. OSU could be in big trouble with Coach's already jumping ship.
Anonymous
Sun Feb 19 2012 09:28
No good coach wants to coach with Meyer. Mark my words.
lvbucknv
Sat Feb 18 2012 04:10
dummies, he was the db coach. vrabel is d line, fickell is lbs coach and co dc with everett withers who will be helping already with dbs. this board knows less than little. what a bunch of simpletons and haters! amusing to us osu fans, we'll be crushing you fools....
Anonymous
Sat Feb 18 2012 00:20
we is all gunna hate Urbs in the end and leave him.this guy is smart to leave real fast n all. michigan is gonna own us now with this ass clown we have as uh coach. oh why did tress have to get busted!
Anonymous
Fri Feb 17 2012 22:33
ANYONE WHO HAS COACHED AT MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN STATE AND NOTRE DAME WOULD BE TAKING A GIANT STEP BACKWARD TO GO TO OSU. WAY TOO MUCH CLASS TO BE A BUCKEYE! GREAT DECISION COACH SHERIDAN, GO BUCKS! COACH MEYER HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM IN COLUMBUS!
80buck
Fri Feb 17 2012 22:15
Blessing in disguise.
Anonymous
Fri Feb 17 2012 19:54
It also shows that one of Meyers weak points - reading character - granted its not easy to judge, people are such good liars. Bi polars are masters at deception
Anonymous
Fri Feb 17 2012 18:45
Anyone who would take the job at OSU then walk away before starting is not wanted = another blessing in disguise
Anonymous
Fri Feb 17 2012 18:20
He should problably hope that he's successful in Tampa, because job hopping like that is not going to get you a very good reputation. Especially since he was fired in Miami. I think OSU promotes Vrabel to Co D coordinator with Luke and hires a linebackers coach. Bucks march on.
Anonymous
Fri Feb 17 2012 17:31
Buh bye
Anonymous
Fri Feb 17 2012 16:25
Im all like "dude" n what-not
Mark
Fri Feb 17 2012 14:43
Eh, not a huge loss I don't think. Not to mention he coached at Michigan for 3 years and his son quarterbacked there for 2.






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