Ohio State Expected to Hire Illinois’ Robby Discher as Special Teams Coordinator

The reported move follows two seasons of special-teams struggles under a committee setup.

Overview

CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported that Ohio State is expected to hire Robby Discher, a development echoed by local outlets, with no official announcement yet from the school.
Discher has led Illinois’ special teams and tight ends since 2023, after prior stops at Tulane (2022), Georgia as a special teams quality-control coach (2021), Louisiana (2020), and Toledo (2016–2019).
Ohio State shifted to a group approach led by quality control coach Rob Keys after parting with Parker Fleming following 2023.
The Buckeyes’ special teams ranked No. 47 nationally in 2024 and No. 67 in 2025 in ESPN’s metric, with high-profile misses including a 27-yard attempt in the Big Ten Championship.
Under Discher, Illinois ranked 16th in special teams in 2024 and 30th in 2025, and his résumé includes Georgia’s 2021 national-title staff and highly rated units at Toledo.