Kerry Coombs
Coombs with the Tennessee Titans in 2019
Current position
TitleSpecial teams coordinator
cornerbacks coach
TeamCincinnati
ConferenceBig 12
Biographical details
Born (1961-09-09) September 9, 1961
Colerain, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
1981–1982Dayton
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1983–1984Greenhills HS (OH) (assistant)
1985–1988Lakota HS (OH) (assistant)
1989–1990Loveland HS (OH)
1991–2006Colerain HS (OH)
2007–2008Cincinnati (DB)
2009–2011Cincinnati (AHC/DB/ST)
2012Ohio State (CB)
2013–2017Ohio State (CB/ST)
2018–2019Tennessee Titans (DB)
2020–2021Ohio State (DC)
2022–presentCincinnati (CB/ST)
2022Cincinnati (interim HC)
Head coaching record
Overall161–34 (high school)
0–1 (college)
Bowls0–1

Kerry Coombs (born September 9, 1961)[1] is an American football coach who is the special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach at the University of Cincinnati. Previously, Coombs was an assistant coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL) in 2018 and 2019 and the defensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2020 to 2021.

Coaching career

High school (1983–2006)

Coombs was a member of the University of Dayton's 1980 Division III National Championship team while studying secondary education. After graduation, he became an assistant coach at two Cincinnati area high schools. In 1989, he accepted the position of head coach at Loveland High School in Loveland, Ohio.

Two years later, he accepted the position of head coach at Colerain High School in Cincinnati, the high school from which he graduated in 1979. In 16 seasons under his leadership, the Colerain Cardinals football team went to ten state playoffs, including five state semifinal berths. In 2004, his team went undefeated (15–0) and won the Division I state championship.[2] During his reign, Colerain won seven consecutive Greater Miami Conference championships from 2000 to 2006. Coombs had a 161–34 record as head coach.[3]

First college stint (2007–2017)

In 2007, Coombs accepted the offer from Brian Kelly to join his staff at the University of Cincinnati as the team's defensive backs coach. The Bearcats led the nation with 26 interceptions in 2007. In 2009, Coombs was promoted to associate head coach in addition to his responsibilities as the team's defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator.[4]

In 2012, Coombs accepted a position to become the defensive backs coach at the Ohio State University. In 2016, the Buckeyes ranked fourth nationally with 21 interceptions, including a nation-high seven interceptions returned for touchdowns, and the team ranked third in the country in passing efficiency defense. In 2017, Ohio State head coach, Urban Meyer, promoted Coombs to the position of assistant coordinator, defense. That year, the Ohio State defense ranked ninth in the NCAA in yards allowed.[5]

Tennessee Titans (2018–2019)

In 2018, Coombs accepted a position to join coach Mike Vrabel's staff with the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL) as a secondary (defensive backs) coach. For the first time in his career, Coombs coached a team in a state other than Ohio. It was also the first time since 1989 that Coombs coached a team that did not have red as the team's primary color. The 2018 Titans ranked sixth in the NFL in passing defense (216.9 yards per game), ranked eighth in the league with an opponent passer rating of 88.4, and finished ninth in the league with a 63.2 opponent completion percentage. Titans defensive backs accounted for 10 total interceptions and an NFL-high nine sacks.[6] In 2019, the Titans defensive back was again a top-10 unit in passing yards and interceptions.[7] The Titans made the playoffs, but lost in the AFC Championship game.

Return to Ohio State (2020–2021)

In 2020, Ohio State needed to fill the position of defensive coordinator and secondary coach following the retirement of Greg Mattison. The search committee quickly set its sights on Coombs. Coombs was highly regarded by the Ohio State coaching staff, administration and fans. Thus, after two successful years in the NFL, Coombs announced his return to Ohio State on January 20, 2020.[8]

Coombs' first year as the defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes was a mixed bag, as the team finished near the top in terms of run defense, but near the bottom in terms of pass defense. The Buckeyes allowed 97.6 rushing yards per game[9] and 3.4 yards per rush,[10] ranking sixth and fifteenth in the FBS, respectively. In terms of pass defense, Ohio State allowed 303.6 yards per game[11] and 7.7 yards per pass attempt,[12] ranking one hundred twenty-second and eighty-second in the FBS, respectively.

Following the 2020 season and the retirement of co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, Coombs assumed the role as the sole defensive coordinator, while Matt Barnes succeeded Coombs as secondary coach.[13]

Ohio State's defensive struggles from 2020 continued into the beginning of the 2021 season. The Buckeyes allowed over 400 yards of offense in a week 1 victory against Minnesota,[14] and over 500 yards of offense in a week 2 loss against Oregon.[15] Following Ohio State's week 3 victory over Tulsa, a game where the Buckeyes again allowed over 500 total yards of offense,[16] head coach Ryan Day announced that secondary coach Matt Barnes had called the defensive plays that week, rather than Coombs.[17] Day also indicated that Barnes calling the defensive plays would be a permanent move. This ultimately led to Coombs and Ohio State agree to part ways after the season ended.[18]

Return to Cincinnati (2022–present)

On January 13, 2022, it was reported that Coombs would not be retained by Ohio State. On January 18, 2022, it was reported that Coombs was returning to the University of Cincinnati as cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator. He joined the staff of head coach Luke Fickell, under whom he had previously worked while Fickell was the co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State from 2012 to 2016.[19]

On November 27, 2022, following the announcement of Fickell's hire by Wisconsin,[20] Coombs was promoted to interim head coach for the remainder of the Bearcats' season.[21] On December 5, 2022, it was announced that Scott Satterfield would be taking over at Cincinnati.[22]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Cincinnati Bearcats (American Athletic Conference) (2022)
2022 Cincinnati 0–10–0L Fenway
Cincinnati: 0–10–0
Total:0–1

Family life

Coombs and his wife, Holly, have three children: daughter Cortney and sons Brayden and Dylan. In 2020, the Detroit Lions hired Brayden as their special teams coordinator.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "University of Cincinnati Coaches and Staff" (PDF). gobearcats.com. p. 98. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Ohio High School Athletic Association 2004 Division I Football Championships". ohsaa.org. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Kerry Coombs Biography". titansonline.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Kerry Coombs is Ohio State's man in Cincinnati". elevenwarriors.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Titans assistant Kerry Coombs' energy comes from others – not just the coffee". tennessean.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Kerry Coombs Biography". titansonline.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  7. ↑ "NFL Statistics". nfl.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ohio State (finally) announces Kerry Coombs as co-defensive coordinator, per report". landgrantholyland.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  9. ↑ "College Football Stats - College FB Team Opponent Rushing Yards per Game | TeamRankings.com". www.teamrankings.com. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  10. ↑ "College Football Stats - College FB Team Opponent Yards per Rush Attempt | TeamRankings.com". www.teamrankings.com. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  11. ↑ "College Football Stats - College FB Team Opponent Passing Yards per Game | TeamRankings.com". www.teamrankings.com. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  12. ↑ "College Football Stats - College FB Team Opponent Yards per Pass Attempt | TeamRankings.com". www.teamrankings.com. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Ryan Day promotes from within to replace retiring Greg Mattison". The-Ozone. February 3, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Ohio State vs. Minnesota - Box Score - September 2, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Oregon vs. Ohio State - Box Score - September 11, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Tulsa vs. Ohio State - Box Score - September 18, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Buckeyes' Day: DC Coombs didn't call plays Sat". ESPN.com. September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  18. ↑ Baird, Nathan; clevel; .com (September 19, 2021). "Ohio State football demoted defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs, giving play calling duties to Matt Barnes". cleveland. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Kerry Coombs is coming back to Cincinnati". The Athletic. January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Wisconsin brings in Cincinnati's Fickell as coach". ESPN.com. November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  21. ↑ Staff, WLWT Digital (November 28, 2022). "UC announces Kerry Coombs as interim head football coach after Fickell's departure". WLWT. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Cincinnati Announces Scott Satterfield as 43rd Head Football Coach". University of Cincinnati Athletics. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  23. ↑ Birkett, Dave (January 11, 2020). "Why Detroit Lions hired 33-year-old Brayden Coombs to run special teams". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
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