Robby Discher
College football special teams coordinator; previously at Illinois and Tulane
- Entries
- 12
- On the record
- 0
- Stories
- 1
- Latest entry
- Nov 9, 2026
The record
Ohio State fired special teams coordinator Robby Discher on November 9, 2026, nine games into his first season, The Columbus Dispatch reported, saying the program announced the move. It followed back-to-back losses, 30-18 at USC on October 31 and 41-28 to Oregon at Ohio Stadium on November 7, part of the Buckeyes' first regular-season losing streak since 2011. Against Oregon, the Ducks converted a fake punt in the second quarter and scored two touchdowns in the last 1:25 of the half to turn a 14-3 deficit into a 17-14 lead. The Dispatch said it was the first midseason firing by Ryan Day since he succeeded Urban Meyer as head coach in 2019.
Ohio State announced his hiring on March 9, 2026, in a staffing update Day released the day before spring practice began, listing him as a new hire and special teams coordinator. It was the first time since 2023 that Day's staff had a dedicated special teams coordinator; in 2024 and 2025 position coaches had run the kicking and return units. The Dispatch, which obtained his contract through a public records request, said it was a two-year deal through the 2027 season, paying $450,000 in 2027, and that he could be owed more than $500,000 in severance, reduced by any pay from a new job.
Discher came from Illinois, where he was special teams coordinator and tight ends coach from 2023 to 2025. The university says the Illini's special teams ranked No. 16 and No. 30 nationally in ESPN's efficiency metric in 2024 and 2025 and earned nine All-Big Ten honors over his three seasons. Before that he was Tulane's special teams coordinator in 2022, when it went 12-2 and won the Cotton Bowl; a special teams quality control coach for national champion Georgia in 2021; special teams coordinator at Louisiana in 2020; and special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at Toledo from 2016 to 2019.
Questions people ask
Why did Ohio State fire Robby Discher?
Ohio State fired him after nine games as its special teams struggled during the team's first regular-season losing streak since 2011, including a fake punt Oregon converted in a 41-28 loss. The Dispatch said the unit ranked 102nd of 138 FBS teams in ESPN's special teams efficiency through Week 10. source
How much will Ohio State pay Robby Discher?
The Columbus Dispatch reported that he could be owed more than $500,000 in severance under a two-year contract that paid $450,000 in 2027, with any payments subject to mitigation if he is hired elsewhere. source
When did Ohio State hire Robby Discher?
Ohio State announced him as its new special teams coordinator on March 9, 2026, in a staffing update from head coach Ryan Day ahead of spring practice. source
Where did Robby Discher coach before Ohio State?
Illinois, as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach from 2023 to 2025. Before that he coached at Tulane, Georgia, Louisiana, Toledo and, as a graduate assistant, Oklahoma State. source
Roles and honours on the record
- 2016-2019 Special teams coordinator and tight ends coach, Toledo source
- 2020 Special teams coordinator and defensive assistant, Louisiana source
- 2021 Special teams quality control coach, Georgia source
- 2022 Special teams coordinator, Tulane source
- 2023-2025 Special teams coordinator and tight ends coach, Illinois source
- 2026 Special teams coordinator, Ohio State source
Every entry, newest first
- Reported
The Columbus Dispatch reported his contract, obtained by records request, runs through next season; severance could top $500,000. Robby Discher fired by Ohio State; $500K+ severance possible
- Reported
CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported on X, citing sources, that Discher is out as Ohio State special teams coordinator. Robby Discher fired by Ohio State; $500K+ severance possible
Stories in this file
The record, entry by entry
- 2018 Official Phil Steele named him special teams coordinator of the year after Toledo led the nation with six blocked punts, and he was nominated for the Broyles Award for the nation's top assistant coach. University of Illinois athletics biography
- 2020 Official While special teams coordinator at Louisiana, which finished 10-1 and No. 15 in the final AP poll, he was named to the American Football Coaches Association's 35 Under 35 list. University of Illinois athletics biography
- 2022 Official As Tulane's special teams coordinator he helped the Green Wave to a 12-2 record, the AAC title and the Cotton Bowl championship. University of Illinois athletics biography
- 2023 Official In his first season at Illinois, PFF ranked the Illini's special teams seventh in the nation, and the team led the nation with seven blocked kicks and punts. University of Illinois athletics biography
- 2024 Official Illinois went 10-3, tying its single-season wins record, and its special teams ranked 16th nationally in ESPN's efficiency metric. University of Illinois athletics biography
- 2026-03-09 Official Ohio State head coach Ryan Day announced him as a new hire and special teams coordinator in a staffing update ahead of spring practice. Ohio State Athletics release
- 2026-10-31 Reported Three special teams penalties on punt coverage and returns and a 44-yard punt return allowed hurt Ohio State in a 30-18 loss at USC, The Columbus Dispatch reported. The Columbus Dispatch report on Yahoo Sports
- 2026-11-07 Official Ohio State lost 41-28 to Oregon at Ohio Stadium after leading 14-3; Oregon converted a fake punt in the second quarter and scored touchdowns with 1:25 and two seconds left in the half to lead 17-14 at the break. Ohio State Athletics game recap
- 2026-11-09 Reported CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported, citing sources, that Discher was out as Ohio State's special teams coordinator. Saturday Tradition report
- 2026-11-09 Reported The Columbus Dispatch reported that Ohio State had announced his firing after nine games and that, under a contract it obtained by public records request, he could be owed more than $500,000 in severance, subject to mitigation. The Columbus Dispatch report on Yahoo Sports
Documents
- Ohio State Athletics release: Coach Ryan Day announces football staffing updates (Mar. 9, 2026)
- Ohio State Athletics recap of the 41-28 loss to Oregon (Nov. 7, 2026)
- University of Illinois athletics biography of Robby Discher
- The Columbus Dispatch report on his firing and contract (Nov. 9, 2026)
- Saturday Tradition report on the CBS Sports report (Nov. 9, 2026)