With less than two weeks from opening fall camp, Ohio State Club Football has announced the following changes to its coaching staff ahead of the 2026 season.
Brendan McNeill will take over as Ohio State’s new defensive coordinator and assistant head coach following the departure of Dylan Barron, who is stepping away from full-time coaching after five seasons. Barron will remain involved with the program as a data and film analyst.
Barron served as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator and assistant head coach from 2019-2021 and 2023-25. The Buckeyes won four national championships in his five seasons on staff, including the first ever in 2019. Barron was named the NCFA’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023 and was a five-year player at linebacker for the Buckeyes from 2014-18, helping the team to its first ever division title and postseason appearance in his final season as a player.
McNeill is entering his fourth season on staff with the Buckeyes after joining in 2023 as defensive line coach. He has won two national titles the last two seasons on staff and has produced back-to-back NCFA Defensive Players of the Year along his defensive line unit in Matt Humphreys (2024) and Trey Jones (2025). McNeill has earned a promotion in each of his offseason’s with Ohio State, adding the title of Recruiting Coordinator in 2024 and Special Teams Coordinator in 2025.
In addition, Robert Smoot has added the title of Defensive Pass Game Coordinator to go along with his responsibilities as a defensive backs coach and scouting coordinator. Smoot will work with McNeill putting together the weekly game plans.
The Buckeyes also welcome two new members to the staff, one with plenty of college football experience at the Division 1 level and another who was arguably the best to play his position with the Ohio State Club Football program.
Chauncey Moore, who played at Temple University and Alabama State, will be tasked with coaching the linebackers and assisting with coordinating the defense in 2026. Moore spent the 2025 season on the roster of the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe as a defensive back and special teams contributor. He totaled 60 total tackles in college, including two interceptions and five pass breakups.
Finally, a familiar face to the program is set to join the coaching staff in 2026. Christian Allen, the program’s all-time leading tackler, is set to assist with the linebacker unit this season. Allen finished his career with 194 career stops, 7.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two interceptions over his career, including a blocked punt for a touchdown. He won two NCFA National Championships as a player, was named a 2x captain and a First Team NCFA All-American during his career.
To see the entire coaching staff for the 2026 season, click here.
