Kerry Coombs

Kerry Coombs (born September 9, 1961[1]) is an American football defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Ohio State University. Coombs and his wife, Holly, have three children: daughter Cortney and sons Brayden, Dylan.

Kerry Coombs
Coombs with the Tennessee Titans in 2019
Current position
TitleDefensive coordinator and secondary coach
TeamOhio State
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Annual salary$1.4 million
Biographical details
Born (1961-09-09) September 9, 1961
Colerain, Ohio
Alma mater Colerain High School,
University of Dayton
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1983–1984Greenhills High School (OH) (Assistant Coach)
1985–1988Lakota High School (OH) (Assistant Coach)
1989–1990Loveland High School (OH)
1991–2006Colerain High School
2007–2011Cincinnati (DB)
2009–2011Cincinnati (AHC/DB)
2012–2016Ohio State (CB)
2017Ohio State (ADC/CB)
2018–2019Tennessee Titans (DB)
2020–presentOhio State (DC/DB)

High School career (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 (Ohio) High School.

Two years later, he accepted the position of head coach at Colerain High School, the high school where he graduated in 1979. In 16 seasons under his leadership, the Colerain Cardinals football team went to 10 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 2000-06. Coombs had a 161-34 record as head coach.[3]

First college career (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 Ohio State Buckeyes defensive backs coach. 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]

Professional career (2018-2019)

In 2018, Coombs accepted a position to join coach Mike Vrabel’s staff with the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League 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, just one game away from the Super Bowl.

Second college career (2020-current)

In 2020, Ohio State needed to fill the position of defensive coordinator and secondary coach. 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]

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.[9]

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. "Lions hire Brayden Coombs as special teams coordinator". detroitlions.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
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