Other than a brief appearance on Urban Meyer's radio show on National Signing Day, new Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson had not spoken since joining the Buckeye staff. That changed Thursday when he talked after OSU's second practice of the spring.
With Wilson available to the media, more than just Ohio State reporters were on hand. A crew from ESPN's "Outside The Lines" was there to ask questions of Wilson, on his departure last December, as head coach at Indiana. Wilson was forced out due to "philosophical differences" amid allegations of player and staff mistreatment. He was hired to join Urban Meyer's Ohio State staff a month later, to be the Buckeyes offensive coordinator.
"We wouldn't be here, doing this job, if those things were true," Wilson said of the allegations that he mistreated players and athletic trainers at Indiana. "Anyone can have an opinion. I know the department over there looked into everything. I know (Ohio State) has looked into everything. I know we’re very, very comfortable with what we’re doing, where we’re at, and we’re excited to move forward.”
Wilson spent six seasons at Indiana and produced some of the best offenses in the Big Ten. He has a reputation, not only from his stint with the Hoosiers, but also his days as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma and Northwestern, as a forward thinking offensive mind. Nonetheless, the way his tenure ended at Indiana--and the subsequent allegations of intimidating injured players and the training staff--has brought a cloud of controversy with his hiring at Ohio State. Wilson was asked if he will change as a coach--in terms of how he relates to players--after his experience at Indiana.
"I think as a coach you're always self-evaluating," Wilson said. "We've had unbelievable relationships and love...that (Indiana) program was built on love and respect and playing hard and I wish them nothing but the best. At the same time, I'm excited about this crowd and these cats and what we can accomplish here."
Ohio State is a new opportunity for Wilson but it will also be an adjustment. He goes from being the leader of a Big 10 program, to an assistant coach under a well respected and successful coach like Meyer.
"The real adjust to me has been coach Meyer and his passion and energy and direction every day is at another level," Wilson said. "You're on point...and it's an awesome obligation he puts on you and I respect the way he does it because it's high end."