Report: Virginia Tech Offensive Coordinator Tyler Bowen Leaving For Position On Ohio State's Staff

Virginia Tech is now in need of a new offensive coordinator. According to multiple reports, Hokies offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen is leaving Blacksburg to become the new offensive line coach for Ryan Day and Ohio State. The Buckeyes lost their former offensive line coach Justin Frye to the NFL shortly after their national championship victory over Notre Dame, but they have found their replacement with Bowen. FootballScoop was first to report the news.

Big get for Ryan Day... sources tell FootballScoop Ohio State is hiring Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen as new OL coach at Ohio State https://t.co/Uy9dq0TFPl pic.twitter.com/MF1yy1XQWy
— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) February 5, 2025

NEW: Ohio State is expected to hire Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen as its next OL coach, @PeteNakos_ reports👀https://t.co/62203yj5Cc pic.twitter.com/ynAqymQ8Tv
— On3 (@On3sports) February 5, 2025

Bowen came to Virginia Tech after spending time at the NFL level with the Jacksonville Jaguars and then as the co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach with Penn State.

This is going to be the second coordinator hire that Brent Pry is going to have to make this offseason for the Hokies. Just recently, Pry hired Sam Siefkis as the new defensive coordinator. Siefkis was most recently the linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals.

This is obviously going to be a critical hire for Pry. His fourth season in Blacksburg is going to be very important of him and getting this hire right is a must. Virginia Tech is going to return quarterback Kyron Drones next season, but is losing running back Bhayshul Tuten to the NFL, multiple receivers to the NFL, and impact offensive linemen to the transfer portal. Keep an eye out for updates on this coaching search. Will Pry potentially promote from within or will he look for an outside candidate to help things turn around for the Hokies?

Here is more on Siefkis from Virginia Tech:

"Siefkes arrives in Blacksburg after serving two seasons as linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals, where he helped mentor linebacker Kyzir White, who ranked 15th in the NFL in tackles with 137 in 2024. He also worked alongside safety Budda Baker, who ranked second in the NFL with 164 tackles and earned Pro Bowl honors. Under Siefkes’ guidance, the Cardinals finished 2024 ranked among the NFL’s top defenses in several categories, including:

6th in Opponent Second Half Points Per Game
8th in Opponent Red Zone Scoring Percentage
10th in Opponent Offensive Touchdowns
11th in Opponent Yards Per Completion
12th in DVOA (Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average)
14th in Opponent Offensive Points Per Game

“After a lengthy and thorough search, one name kept emerging - Sam Siefkes. People across the country couldn’t stop praising Sam’s knowledge of the game and his abilities as a coach. As I got to know him, I couldn’t agree more. I am thrilled to have Sam join our program,” said Coach Pry. “He’s worked under some of the best minds in the game, including Mike Zimmer, Kevin O’Connell, Ed Donatell, Jonathan Gannon, Nick Rallis, and Dave Aranda. His ability to design innovative defensive schemes will energize both our players and fans.”

“Virginia Tech and Coach Pry are getting a remarkable leader in the coaching world,” said Arizona Cardinals’ head coach Jonathan Gannon. “Sam is a fantastic communicator, teacher and has unbelievable knowledge on how to stop offenses,” Gannon continued. “He is a great coach and even better person. He will bring competitive stamina and a ton of juice to Blacksburg. Hokie Nation be ready to see an aggressive, smart, tough unit that will dominate games.”

"Prior to his time in Arizona, Siefkes spent two seasons (2021-22) with the Minnesota Vikings where he was the assistant linebackers coach in 2022 following one season (2021) as a defensive quality control coach. In 2022, with the Vikings, linebackers Eric Kendricks (137) and Jordan Hicks (128) had a combined 265 tackles and 4.0 sacks, 10 TFLs, six quarterback hits, an interception, 16 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Both players ranked in the top 20 in the league that season in tackles while Hicks was second among NFL linebackers with 10 passes defended. Kendricks led Minnesota in tackles for the seventh time and his 280 total tackles in two seasons (2021-22) working with Siefkes were the ninth best total in the NFL during that span."

Virginia Tech had a lot of talent on the defensive side of the football last season, but underachieved. Siefkes will hope to turn around that unit and get the Hokies back to playing well on that side of the ball.

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