Matt Patricia and the Ohio State Buckeyes were working on a new agreement with the defensive coordinator for a while. After decades of coaching different positions and even a head coaching stint with Detroit, Patricia joined Ohio State in 2025.
The Buckeyes had won a national title a year before he joined. Ryan Day and Co. hoped that they’d go back-to-back with a new energy at the defensive coordinator position. The Buckeyes fell short of that goal.
However, Patricia proved his value to the program and was in conversation about a new contract. In February 2026, the Buckeyes’ athletic director Ross Bjork confirmed that the program reached an agreement with Patricia.
“He was always committed to staying here,” Bjork said. “I know his family loves it. His kids have fit in well. … We just kept a constant dialogue before we got to an agreement with him.”
At the time, the terms of his new deal weren’t revealed. His previous deal with the Buckeyes was a three-year contract that included a base salary of $2.5 million for the 2025 season. Many believed that the new contract would carry a bigger amount.
“Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will make $3.75 million in 2026, making him the highest-paid assistant in the country. It’s a three-year deal that jumps to $3.85M in Year 2,” Dick Weiss reported.
Patricia has now become the highest-paid assistant coach in college football. With decades of experience, a three-year NFL head coaching stint, and three Super Bowl wins with the Patriots, Patricia deserves the amount he’s being paid.
Ryan Day Said Matt Patricia Had Other Options
There’s no denying that if Patricia wanted to go elsewhere, he’d have gotten plenty of options to choose from. The price tag might’ve been different, but finding a new home wouldn’t have been difficult for Patricia.
Head coach Ryan Day stated that he had options, but he made the decision to stay because of a lot of factors. His family being comfortable there played a huge role as well.
“He would tell you it’s a great place to go to work every day,” Day said. “Does he have options? Yes. Did he have options? Yes. But I think he found a lot of joy in making an impact on these guys’ lives at a different point than he really was used to in the NFL.”
Day said that it helped reach an agreement with Patricia and keep him on the program for the next few years.
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