A lot of conversations about Ryan Day focus on the wins, the recruiting classes and the trophies. But what often gets lost is the person behind the headset — the dad, the teacher, the leader shaping young men.
On a new episode of Youth Inc., Greg Olsen sat down with the Ohio State football coach — just months removed from a national championship — for a conversation that felt less like an interview and more like two friends trading notes about life. The bond they’ve built over time — Olsen visiting spring practice, watching Day lead and admiring the program up close — gave this episode a unique tone. This wasn’t just about football. It was about parenting, culture and the daily choices that define who we become.
The Day episode is part of a star-studded new season that also features Tom Brady, CJ Stroud, Malcolm Gladwell and Dr. Michael Gervais, Missy Franklin, Big Cat from Barstool, Bryce Young, James Clear, Clayton Kershaw, Mo Vaughn, Adrian Wojnarowski, Jenny Levy and more.
A list of the Youth Inc. podcast guests including Tom Brady, Malcolm Gladwell and Dr. Michael Gervais, Ryan Day, CJ Stroud, Barstool Big Cat, and Missy Franklin
Building Culture at Ohio State
When Olsen asked what “culture” really looks like at a program like Ohio State, Day went back to his roots — first as a quarterback and linebacker at the University of New Hampshire, then through coaching stops at Boston College, Florida, Temple, the Eagles and the 49ers. He explained how he’s seen different definitions of culture, but at Ohio State it’s built on clarity.
“Culture is really just the behavior that’s in your building,” Day said. “One of the most important things is having an agreement on the front end of what the expectations are.”
That agreement, he explained, makes accountability easier when things inevitably get hard. He uses what he calls the 10-80-10 rule: 10 percent of players are elite, 10 percent resist and 80 percent are in the middle. “Too often coaches spend their time on the bottom 10,” Day said. “But the real job is pushing that middle 80 closer to elite. That’s how you move the mountain.”
Tested After the Michigan Loss
That culture was put to the test last fall. After a tough rivalry loss to Michigan, Ohio State was surrounded by questions and outside noise. Inside the locker room, however, the foundation held. The Buckeyes rallied and went on to capture a national championship.
“Someone once defined culture to me as who you are when things are at their worst,” Olsen said. “That’s what stood out about your team. You held together. And that doesn’t happen because of one meeting or one speech, it happens because the foundation had been laid years before.”
Coaching as Teaching
For Day, the role of a coach is first and foremost to teach. “The best coaches I’ve been around aren’t just play-callers. They teach,” he explained.
This summer, Ohio State’s players read Chop Wood, Carry Water. Each day a different player stood in front of the team and summarized a short chapter. “It’s about process over results,” Day said. “It’s the daily habits that matter — who you hang out with, how you fuel your body, what time you wake up. Over time, those decisions compound.”
Recruiting Talent — and Families
That same philosophy extends to recruiting. In an era shaped by NIL and the transfer portal, Day still believes what separates players isn’t just their physical gifts.
“Talent is God-given. Discipline and skill are what you control,” he said. “The best players — Jeremiah Smith, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James — combine all three.”
Smith, Ohio State’s 6’3”, 225-pound sophomore receiver, is already considered one of the most talented players in the country. But even for someone who, as Day put it, “won the genetic lottery,” talent alone isn’t enough. “We also recruit kids who are highly disciplined and skilled, even if they aren’t the most gifted, because they help your culture. You need a balance.”
It also extends to families. “The parents who say, ‘We want our son to earn everything he gets, no excuses, no shortcuts’ — those are the families I value most," Day said. "Because in today’s world it’s easy to give kids an escape hatch. But the best success stories come when kids are pushed to figure things out on their own.”
Seeing Through a Father’s Eyes
That perspective has only sharpened as Day’s own son moves through the recruiting process. “There’s a balance," he said. "You have to advocate for your son — nobody else will — but you also have to let him figure it out. My son feels like he has to work twice as hard because people think opportunities come easier to him. But I know in his heart that motivates him.”
It’s also reshaped how he makes decisions as a coach. “I think a lot about what kind of coach I’d want for my own son," said Day. "That’s how I frame decisions at Ohio State. How would I want my son treated? That lens makes everything clearer.”
Humanity at the Center
For Olsen, that mix of toughness and humanity is what sets Day apart. “If I ever had a high schooler and needed to turn him over to a coach for four years, Ryan Day would be at the very top of my list," Olsen said. "It’s not about plays or schemes, it’s about trust, character and humanity. And Ryan has all of that.”
Day agreed, pointing out that too often sports lose sight of that simple truth. “At the end of the day, it’s about people," he said. "I think sometimes we lose sight of that. I saw it recently watching Scottie Scheffler finish a round, then embrace his son. That’s what it’s about.
"The more your kids and family are part of your coaching life, the more enjoyable this profession is. The players need to see you as a dad and a husband, not just a coach. That humanity matters.”
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