Jeff Hafley, co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach, walks into Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. prior to Ohio State’s matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Sept 28. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Managing Editor for Multimedia
Each member of this year’s defensive backs room at Ohio State has taken time to share their ultimate on- and off-field dreams with one another –– player and coach alike.
For co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Jeff Hafley, whom redshirt sophomore cornerback Shaun Wade called a father figure of the group, that dream was to one day become a head coach.
That became reality Monday, as Hafley was officially named the new head man at Boston College. Even with the advanced knowledge of his aspirations, Ohio State’s loss of a top assistant coach cannot be glossed over.
“We knew he was going to leave eventually, but it happened sooner than later,” Wade said.
So soon, in fact, that Hafley’s departure falls smack dab in the middle of College Football Playoff preparation and National Signing Day. However, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said he expects Hafley to finish out the season with the Buckeyes and Hafley’s five 2020 recruits to remain committed to Ohio State.
All of Hafley’s recruits are top 30 prospects in their positions. Day said that at this time a year ago, he told Ohio State’s defensive backs he would get the best position coach in the country, though none were familiar with Hafley.
Now, Day will do the same with a group of incoming players. He said Hafley was a big part of their initial commitment, but not the only reason.
“In this world, you go to a place like Ohio State, you do well, things like this are going to happen,” Day said. “You can either go hire somebody that is going to be here for seven or eight years, or go hire the best in the country. We’re going to hire the best in the country.”
Day said Ohio State’s defensive schemes will not change with Hafley out, but change is on the horizon for the Buckeye secondary nonetheless.
Junior cornerback and potential top 10 NFL Draft pick Jeff Okudah will likely leave the program following the season, as will redshirt senior cornerback Damon Arnette and senior safety Jordan Fuller.
It may be Wade’s final season too, as recent draft projections slate him in the first few rounds. Wade said Hafley’s departure will impact his decision on whether to stay, but he isn’t ready to make that call just yet.
The entire starting secondary may overturn next season, and current second stringers like sophomore cornerback Sevyn Banks will be on their third position coach in as many years.
Neither of the two coaches for whom Banks has played so far –– Hafley or Taver Johnson –– was the coach who recruited him: Kerry Coombs, the secondary coach of the Tennessee Titans. Coombs is reportedly being targeted for a return to Columbus, where he spent six seasons from 2012 to ’17.
The lack of coaching continuity has come to be expected for players like Banks. He said he wasn’t happy to hear Hafley would be leaving, but he recognized that the Boston College job was a better opportunity for him and his family.
“It’s pretty tough,” Banks said. “You just got to adapt to your environment. It’s going to happen, and you just got to understand that.”
Day said in October that he expects a two-year commitment from his assistant coaches, but reiterated Monday that it was more of a gentlemen’s agreement than a contractual obligation.
Still, Day said Hafley went about the move in the right way, not pursuing it during Michigan Week or ahead of the Big Ten Championship. Hafley will have to assemble a coaching staff of his own, though, and the notion that he may look to hire Ohio State co-workers wouldn’t come as a shock.
Linebackers coach Al Washington entered Ohio State at the same time as Hafley, and speculation has singled him out as a potential candidate for the Boston College defensive coordinator position.
“If that’s what he would want to do, I’d be very, very surprised — be shocked, to be honest with you,” Day said. “If that’s what he wanted to do, I’d support him. I don’t see that happening at all.”
Day said he doesn’t anticipate any other coaching changes, meaning Hafley could be the only Ohio State assistant to realize the dream of head coaching glory following this season.
However, Hafley made it clear at his Boston College introduction Monday that he still has one dream to chase before he can fully commit to the next.
“I wish I could stay here and begin right now, but I have to go win a national championship,” Hafley said. “I owe it to Ohio State, to coach Day, and to the players, and I’m excited.”
