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Ohio State Football: 10 greatest coaches in program history

By Quinn Douglas

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes stands on the sideline during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Ohio Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes stands on the sideline during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Ohio Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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5. John Wilce: 1913-1928

  • Career Record: 78-33-9
  • Awards and Accolades: 1916, ’17, ’20 Big Ten Champions, CFB Hall of Fame Class of 1954

The first coach to bring long-term success to the Ohio State program was John Wilce. Wilce was an all-conference fullback for the University of Wisconsin in 1908 and shortly after his graduation, joined the Wisconsin coaching staff as an assistant. He would be an assistant for two years before being hired at Ohio State as the school’s 12th head coach.

Wilce would coach the Buckeyes for 16 years and brought great success to school. He became the first Ohio State coach to lead his team to a victory over arch-rival Michigan in 1919, as star running back Chic Harley starred in the Buckeyes 13-3 win over the Wolverines. Wilce would amass a 4-7 career record against Michigan, at one point winning three-in-a row in the series.

Wilce would step down as Buckeyes head coach following 1928 and retired from coaching to focus on medicine.

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