Ohio State Fires Special Teams Coordinator Robby Discher

“I don’t think I can sit here and say that we’ve improved in special teams right now,” head coach Ryan Day said on Oct. 6, thelantern.com reported.

That lack of progress culminated in a coaching change this week. Ohio State has fired special teams coordinator Robby Discher following a 41-28 loss to Oregon on Saturday, MGoBlog reported.

Discher, who joined the Buckeyes in February after three seasons with Illinois, lasted just nine games with the program.

Ryan Day has begun making changes to the Ohio State staff. Robby Discher is out as special teams coordinator, sources tell @CBSSports. pic.twitter.com/wKFwx78nmm

— Post by @mzenitz on X

The decision follows a series of critical mistakes during recent contests. In Saturday’s loss to Oregon, the Buckeyes allowed a fake punt in the second quarter that helped spark a Ducks touchdown drive, thelantern.com reported.

Oregon eventually scored 38 unanswered points during that stretch of the game. This loss marked the second consecutive defeat for Ohio State.

Ohio State fires special teams coordinator Robby Discher | What went wrong, what comes next

The issues with the unit were also evident in the previous game against USC on Oct. 31. During that 30-18 loss, the Buckeyes committed three special teams penalties and surrendered a 44-yard punt return that led to a Trojans touchdown, MGoBlog reported.

The Buckeyes’ difficulties are reflected in their national rankings across several key categories. While the kick return defense is tied for fifth in the country by allowing fewer than 13 yards per return, other metrics show significant weakness, thelantern.com reported.

Ohio State Fires Special Teams Coordinator Robby Discher — Photo: thelantern.com

Category	National Rank
Kick Return Average	118th
Punt Return Average	113th
Punt Return Defense	103rd
Net Punting	85th

Penalty discipline has been a recurring theme for the Buckeyes this season. According to MGoBlog, Ohio State had at least one special teams penalty in every game played this year.

The team committed a season-high three penalties in both the Iowa and USC games. They also recorded two penalties each against Ball State and Maryland, and one penalty in games against Texas, Kent State, Illinois, and Indiana.

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Despite these struggles, the Buckeyes’ starting kicker, Connor Hawkins, has remained productive. He has made 12 of 14 field goal attempts, including his last seven tries, thelantern.com reported.

The dismissal of Discher comes as the program seeks to stabilize a unit that has struggled to find consistency throughout the 2026 campaign.