Reports: Mike Yurcich joining Ohio State staff

Tennessee’s winding search for an offensive coordinator has dragged into 2019. According to multiple reports, it’s going to drag on a little bit longer.

After a 38-33 win over Missouri in the Liberty Bowl, it was reported that Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich was leaving the program.

That report confirmed what most already believed — Yurcich was either joining the Tennessee or Ohio State coaching staff. According to John Brice and Austin Ward, Yurcich will be headed to Columbus to join the Buckeyes. ESPN is now reporting the same.

This year Oklahoma State ranked 10th in in S&P+ offense, their third consecutive season inside of the top ten in that category. The Cowboys averaged 500 yards of offense in 2018, good for 10th in total offense in the FBS.

Yurcich was discovered by Mike Gundy in 2012, following a literal internet search. As the story goes, Gundy was tired of losing assistants, so he dug deep — all the way to Shippensburg University. Gundy eventually found film, then offered Yurcich the job shortly after interviewing him.

Oklahoma State hasn’t skipped a beat offensively since, routinely ranking among the best offenses in college football. Yurcich will now take those numbers to Columbus, joining new head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson.

If Tennessee did offer their offensive coordinator position to Yurcich, as was reported, this is just the latest kick in the teeth for the Vols. Yurcich will return home to Ohio, but will join an already crowded offensive staff. He had a reported lucrative offer from Tennessee, where he would run the show and have a chance to prove himself in the SEC.

Tennessee now could turn to Steve Sarkisian, who was let go by the Falcons earlier this week. Outside of that, this search feels pretty wide open again. The NFL season ended on Sunday, which could free up a number of new candidates.