Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day Tests Positive for COVID-19, Larry Johnson to Replace as Head Coach

Ohio State sophomore head coach Ryan Day has tested positive for COVID-19, but this weekend’s game in Illinois remains to be played, the school said Friday afternoon.

In Day’s place, defensive line coach Larry Johnson will be the interim head coach.

The sports department has confirmed an “increase in the number of positive tests this week for the coronavirus” which it says is “in contrast” to testing throughout the season. Despite the positive cases, the game will not be canceled since the positive points do not reach the threshold set by the Big Ten.

The state of Ohio will fly to Champaign, Ill. On Saturday morning instead of Friday night, as originally planned, due to the addition of COVID-19 tests before the trip. All players and team staff – including coaches and support staff – underwent rapid daily testing on Friday morning, and they will also have PCR testing on Friday afternoon before traveling.

Players who test positive for COVID-19 must be absent at least 21 days before returning to competition, which means anyone positive this week will have to miss the last three games of the regular season. Coaches who have confirmed positives must be away from their team for a minimum of 10. Depending on what day that day tested positive, he could miss this weekend’s game against Illinois or both at Michigan State. before returning to the sideline for the home incline with Michigan.

“I’ve spoken with Coach Day, and he’s doing fine physically,” athletic director Gene Smith said in a statement. “I feel bad for Coach and for the members of the program who have been diagnosed with a positive test. Coach Day and this team have been true leaders in managing things throughout this pandemic. Our team wants to play this game and we’re going to do whatever we can to make it happen. All decisions regarding the well-being of our student-athletes and staff will continue to be guided by our medical staff.

Day follows Jeff Brohm of Purdue, Paul Chryst of Wisconsin and Mike Locksley of Maryland as the fourth Big Ten head coach to publicly announce a positive coronavirus test.

The state of Ohio has chosen not to release a situation report at 10 a.m. Friday for the first time since its implementation at the start of the 2019 season. Instead, it will release the report – which details who will not be available and which players are game decisions – Saturday about two hours before the noon kickoff.