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Football
Coombs Finding Life in the "Big City" to His Liking
By Tony Gerdeman

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was a simple, almost throwaway line, but it was one that also spoke volumes.

"I've never been in the state of Wisconsin," said OSU cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs when asked about this week's game in Madison.

Cornerbacks Coach Kerry Coombs
Photo by Jim Davidson

"You've got to remember, I've lived a sheltered life that pretty much revolves around the state of Ohio, particularly Cincinnati. Never been there."

This is Coombs' 30th year as a football coach, but it's his first working outside of southwest Ohio. Now with the Buckeyes, he is getting to experience things that he has never experienced before.

However, one thing that he does have experience with is coaching on a college football team with 10 wins.

"I've been a college coach for six years, and five of those years we've won 10 games," he said, alluding to his five successful seasons with the University of Cincinnati before coming to Columbus.

"To me, it's phenomenal to be a part of it, but to be able to do it here against this schedule and in this conference, with these kids and this situation with injuries and all of those other kinds of things, it's just phenomenal."

Cornerbacks Coach Kerry Coombs
Photo by Jim Davidson

Residing in Ohio for all of his coaching life, the opportunity to coach at Ohio State was never really something that Coombs thought about. When he was hired, he referred to working at Ohio State as something that "you don't allow yourself to dream about".

Now that he's here, however, he's getting to experience new things every day, and he is appreciating every last lesson.

"I'm a high school football coach," he said, justifying his sheltered existence.

"I'm the country bumpkin that got to go to the big city, and I'm just so excited to be a part of this. Every day I'm learning things that I think are incredibly valuable for me as a man, as a father, as a husband.

"I'm learning things that are going to be valuable to me as I extend my career in coaching. I'm really, really excited to be a part of something that is so special."

As a coach, he then turns the lessons that he learns into teaching moments for his players, and his players have absolutely responded.

One of the main reasons that the Ohio State defense has played better of late is because the cornerbacks are now able to do more than they were able to do earlier in the season, which has allowed the Buckeyes to be more aggressive on defense, and in turn, more productive.

Cornerbacks Coach Kerry Coombs
Photo by Jim Davidson

The cornerback group has gotten better every step of the way since Coombs left the comforts of home and took the Ohio State job, and as he has repeatedly said, he knows that he's a part of something special right now. However, he doesn't let himself or his players get caught up in what might be.

"At the same time, I will tell you that on a day in and day out basis, all you're trying to do is win that day. You don't have time to really step back and think about it."

That's the mantra, "Win the day." Take each day as it comes and don't let the situation become too big for you. In other words, don't get blinded by the bright lights of the big city.

Sometimes, however, a situation has a way of keeping you up to date on what's happening, which is something that Coombs experienced this past week.

"It's kind of remarkable," he explained.

"I will run into people, I was all over the country recruiting this past week, and that's when you start to get the perspective that something kind of special is happening and I actually happen to be a part of it."

Not bad for a self-described "high school coach" who spent his first 24 years in the business happy to be where he was. Now Coombs has one of the most coveted assistant coaching jobs in the country, happens to be doing exceedingly well at it, and he doesn't take any of it for granted.

"You don't feel it in the middle of it, but I can tell you that I really appreciate the opportunity to be here, and I don't miss a moment of it," he said.

With only two games remaining on the schedule, an already special season could certainly become unforgettable. Then suddenly that sheltered life would have to make room for the history that it was just part of.

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