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Jeff Hafley, Greg Mattison named Ohio State co-defensive coordinators

Former NFL assistant Jeff Hafley and Michigan defensive line coach Greg Mattison will take control of Ohio State's defense.
Credit: Will Newton/Getty Images
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 17: A detail of an Ohio State Buckeyes helmet during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on November 17, 2018 in College Park, Maryland.

The shake up on Ryan Day's first coaching staff at Ohio State continues.

Less than an hour after it was first revealed that Greg Schiano was out as the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator, Ohio State announced that Jeff Hafley will serve alongside former Michigan assistant Greg Mattison as Ohio State's co-defensive coordinator.

Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports first reported Hafley's hiring.

The 39-year-old Hafley spent the last three seasons as the San Francisco 49ers' defensive backs coach. Prior to that, he spent time with the Cleveland Browns (2014-15) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-13) following college coaching stints at Pittsburgh (2006-10) and Rutgers (2011).

Hafley spent time working with Day on Chip Kelly's 49ers staff during the 2016 season.

The hiring of Hafley is just the latest move on the Buckeyes' staff in a week that's been full of them since Day took over for Urban Meyer as Ohio State's head coach. Last week, safeties coach Alex Grinch left to be the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma, while earlier on Monday, multiple outlets reported that the Buckeyes would be replacing Schiano with Mattison, who has spent the last eight seasons coaching at Michigan.

Per a press release, "Hafley will also be in charge of the secondary. Specific position responsibilities for Mattison will be announced at a later date."

According to 247Sports.com, Day will also not be retaining linebackers coach Bill Davis. Multiple reports have also linked Ohio State to Michigan linebackers coach Al Washington, a Columbus native who coached alongside Day at Boston College and is considered one of the Wolverines' top recruiters.

Neither Schiano, Davis nor cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson were mentioned in Ohio State's press release.

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