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Imagine being nine years old, walking home from school, and finding police cars parked outside your house. For Ryan Day, that moment became the opening chapter of a story that would define the rest of his life. At first, he thought it was just an accident. Only a year later did he learn the devastating truth. His father had taken his own life. That tragedy did more than just scar him. It shaped his philosophy as a coach and a man. And it’s that same life lesson that now drives the heartbeat of his Ohio State program.

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When CBS Sports College Football posted a clip of Ryan Day on October 19, it wasn’t just coach Day talking culture. It was a man who’s lived through what he preaches. “I tell the guys all the time, life is hard,” he said. “The game of football doesn’t care, and neither does the world. So we want to be there for them. Understanding that you have physical health and you have mental health, and that you need to make sure that you’re taking care of both along the way.” That’s survival wisdom forged from tragedy because he knows what happens when mental health is ignored.

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Ryan Day has seen it firsthand. After losing his father, his emotions bounced between confusion, anger, and loneliness. “I’d get pissed,” he once admitted. “How come I can’t have a father?” But instead of letting that bitterness consume him, he’s transformed that pain into purpose, using his platform to champion mental wellness for his players and beyond. Defensive end Caden Curry said, “One thing I think Coach Day does really well is that he cares so much about us that he has so many opportunities for us to talk to people.” For Curry, those conversations are a “big stress relief.” 

Behind the scenes, Ryan Day has built a mental health ecosystem that most programs can only dream of. “We have psychiatrists, psychologists, athletic counselors for whatever needs to be put into place,” he said. Whether a player’s dropping passes, going through a breakup, or battling deeper issues, there’s a support system waiting. “It’s one of the more masculine things you can do is to show vulnerability,” he added. 

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After Ohio State’s crushing loss to Michigan last season, Ryan Day’s family faced waves of criticism and even death threats. His wife, Nina, later shared, “I don’t think anybody realizes that.” Still, the family stayed united. “My kids will tell you that they couldn’t be more proud of their dad,” she said. “And even after that awful loss, we told them we still believed in him, and no matter what happens, we still have each other.” Out of that darkness, the Days built something lasting.

From pain to purpose – Ryan Day’s full circle 

Together, Ryan Day and Nina founded the Ryan and Christina Day Fund, pledging $100,000 to support children’s mental health. They later donated $1 million to Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center and backed the On Our Sleeves movement at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, turning heartbreak into hope for countless families.

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When Ryan Day lost to Michigan, he admitted that it’s one of the worst things that happened to him, other than losing his father. He doesn’t have many memories of his dad, just flashes of a convenience store, a Red Sox cap, a grainy home video of them playing baseball. But fate has a poetic way of healing old wounds.

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On January 20, 1988, Ryan Day lost his father. On January 20, 2025, he won his first national championship. As The Silver Bulletin wrote, “Football can be absolutely beautiful.” For the Buckeyes HC, it’s closure. Because in his world, football is more than just a game. It’s redemption.

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