Kerry Coombs

Coombs was a member of the University of Dayton’s 1980 Division III National Championship team while studying secondary education. After graduation, he became an assistant coach at two Cincinnati area High Schools. In 1989, he accepted the position of head coach at Loveland (Ohio) High School.

Two years later, he accepted the position of head coach at Colerain High School, the high school where he graduated in 1979. In 16 seasons under his leadership, the Colerain Cardinals football team went to 10 state playoffs, including five state semifinal berths. In 2004, his team went undefeated (15-0) and won the Division I state championship.[2] During his reign, Colerain won seven consecutive Greater Miami Conference championships from 2000-06. Coombs had a 161-34 record as head coach.[3]

In 2007, Coombs accepted the offer from Brian Kelly to join his staff at the University of Cincinnati as the team’s defensive backs coach. The Bearcats led the nation with 26 interceptions in 2007. In 2009, Coombs was promoted to associate head coach in addition to his responsibilities as the team’s defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator.[4]

In 2012, Coombs accepted a position to become the Ohio State Buckeyes defensive backs coach. In 2016, the Buckeyes ranked fourth nationally with 21 interceptions, including a nation-high seven interceptions returned for touchdowns, and the team ranked third in the country in passing efficiency defense. In 2017, Ohio State head Coach, Urban Meyer, promoted Coombs to the position of assistant coordinator, defense. That year, the Ohio State defense ranked ninth in the NCAA in yards allowed.[5]

In 2018, Coombs accepted a position to join coach Mike Vrabel’s staff with the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League as a secondary (defensive backs) coach. For the first time in his career, Coombs coached a team in a state other than Ohio. It was also the first time since 1989 that Coombs coached a team that did not have red as the team's primary color. The 2018 Titans ranked sixth in the NFL in passing defense (216.9 yards per game), ranked eighth in the league with an opponent passer rating of 88.4, and finished ninth in the league with a 63.2 opponent completion percentage. Titans defensive backs accounted for 10 total interceptions and an NFL-high nine sacks.[6] In 2019, the Titans defensive back was again a top-10 unit in passing yards and interceptions.[7] The Titans made the playoffs, but lost in the AFC Championship game, just one game away from the Super Bowl.

In 2020, Ohio State needed to fill the position of defensive coordinator and secondary coach. The search committee quickly set its sights on Coombs. Coombs was highly regarded by the Ohio State coaching staff, administration and fans. Thus, after two successful years in the NFL, Coombs announced his return to Ohio State on January 20, 2020 [8]

Coombs and his wife, Holly, have three children: daughter Cortney and sons Brayden and Dylan. In 2020, the Detroit Lions hired Brayden as their special teams coordinator.[9]