Before Ryan Day called plays in “The Horseshoe” and made Ohio State a quarterback factory, he was playing under center. That’s right — the Buckeyes’ head coach didn’t merely talk the talk; he walked the walk.
Day went from the blue-collar neighborhoods of Manchester, New Hampshire to slinging the rock in the FCS. Day’s journey to college football’s big stage is filled with grit, leadership, and the kind of mental sharpness that would later define his coaching style. Let’s take a look at Day’s football past.
Where Did Ryan Day Play College Football?
Ryan Day’s football origin story begins in the midst of New England. Born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, Day was a local sports sensation at Manchester Central High School during the late 1990s. As a quarterback, he broke state records with his arm and was named All-State, not to mention impressing his coaches and teammates.
“He was like a coach in cleats,” said Jim Schubert, Day’s high school coach, in a 2023 Union Leader interview. “He saw the field better than anyone I’d ever coached.”
College programs noticed. Day ended up remaining in-state and playing at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). It’s an FCS school known for its ability to produce offensive skill players.
From 1998 through 2001, Day started at quarterback for offensive coordinator Chip Kelly—yes, that Chip Kelly. He would go on to revolutionize college football at Oregon and coach in the NFL.
At 6’1″ and about 220 pounds, Day was not the most physical of players, but he was smart and gritty. Playing in a time when the spread offense had not yet become the trend, Day excelled under Kelly’s pass-friendly offense.
In his four years, he passed for over 7,600 yards and 53 touchdowns and ranked among the top quarterback seasons in UNH program history. His senior year alone included 2,605 yards passing and 21 touchdowns—a preview of what was simmering in that football brain of his.
Most importantly, Day was learning everything. Playing for Kelly exposed him to innovative play design, pace, and offensive effectiveness firsthand. Day once said in an interview with the Columbus Dispatch, “Playing for Chip changed everything. It made me think about the game in a totally different way.”
Though Day did not progress to the NFL, the college football experience he had was the starting point for an exceptionally successful coaching career. After completing a business degree at UNH, Day began his path into coaching when he became a graduate assistant coach at Boston College.
From Boston, he moved upward through the coaching ranks, making stops first in Florida and later at Temple and the NFL.
His days as a quarterback provided him with immediate credibility in quarterback rooms. He had a sense of what it was like to stare down a blitz, read a play in a split second, and direct an offense — a big reason why he’s such a successful coach of quarterbacks like Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud.
Tom O’Brien, who coached with Day at Boston College, once said, “Ryan always had the mental tools. He didn’t just play quarterback—he lived the position. That makes a huge difference when you become a coach.”
In 2017, Day arrived at Ohio State with Urban Meyer as co-offensive coordinator. Two years later, Meyer’s retirement gave Day the keys to one of the sport’s largest football brands. In his inaugural season (2019) alone, Day guided the Buckeyes to a 13–1 record and a College Football Playoff appearance.
He’s kept the program trending toward a championship ever since, all while maintaining the same level of development for elite quarterbacks and recruiting nationally.
RELATED: CFB Analyst Reveals What Could Give Ryan Day the Edge Over Michigan in 2025
It’s simple to forget just how much playing time influences a coach, particularly one like Day, who didn’t climb up the Power Five or the NFL ranks as an individual. Yet what Day learned as a four-year starter at UNH provided him with a singular foundation on leadership and resilience.
Even today, Day still references his college days when talking to his players.
“I remember what it was like to take a hit on third-and-long,” he once said. “That’s why I’m always pushing our O-line to be elite. I’ve lived it.”
So, sure—Ryan Day did play college football, and he did play it well. His days as New Hampshire’s featured quarterback didn’t get him onto NFL draft boards. However, they did leave him with something even stronger: an intimate, hands-on knowledge of the game.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
