Ryan Day’s father, Raymond Day, passed away due to suicide when Ryan was 8.
Despite winning the ninth national championship in Ohio State Buckeyes football history, head coach Ryan Day’s resume still faces the same criticism.
ESPN published an article ranking the top ten coaches in college football. Day came in second place.
Three voters tabbed Day as the fourth-best coach in college football.
For one of the voters, at least, Andrea Adelson, a senior writer at ESPN, the choice was due to the same issues repeatedly brought up against Day’s resume as the Buckeyes’ head coach.
Adelson wrote,
“I think he should be docked for having a poor record against Michigan, the most important game on the schedule every year,” “He is 1-4 against the Wolverines and lost last season as a prohibitive favorite.”
Andrea Adelson
Ryan and the Buckeyes must start winning against that team up north to ward off the continued criticism.
Ryan Day’s Mother Did Several Jobs To Raise Him After The Death Of His Father, Raymond
Born on March 12, 1979, in Manchester, New Hampshire, Ryan Day’s parents were initially from the United States and belonged to the Caucasian race.
His father, Raymond Day, owned a convenience store in Manchester.
One of Ryan’s cherished memories with his father was watching a home movie of them playing baseball.
Tragically, Raymond took his own life on January 20, 1988, when Ryan was only 8.
After losing his father, he described his emotions ranging from anger and resentment to confusion, especially when witnessing other children with their fathers.
Ryan, 47, became a mental health advocate following his personal experience of losing his father at a young age.
His mother, Lisa Day, raised Ryan as a single parent. Lisa worked several jobs to provide for Ryan and his siblings.
However, Lisa has avoided social media, so little information about her personal life is known.
Head Coach Ryan Day Grew Up With His Two Siblings
Ryan Day has two brothers: Chris and Tim Day.
As per Chris’s LinkedIn handle, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Anselm College in May 2003.
Later, in July 2009, he pursued his master’s degree in Justice and Administration from Norwich University.
He served as the law enforcement specialist from October 2005 to December 2020.
Since January 2021, he has been serving as the full-time medical sales representative at Maverick Medical and as a sales representative at Alphatec Spine.
In February 2025, Chris took his LinkedIn handle and shared a glimpse of celebrating Ryan’s National Championship win. He wrote,
Today, I celebrate my brother Ryan for embodying all these values and more. Winning the National Championship is an extraordinary accomplishment—and it’s a testament to your dedication, perseverance, and unwavering drive. All things you have shown me- and our entire family- our whole lives. Proud of you, Ryan. Love you, brothers.
Chris Day
On the other hand, Tim Day, 42, born on October 9, 1983, played quarterback and wide receiver for the University of Massachusetts from 2002 to 2005.
He had a breakout season as a junior in 2004, starting all 11 games and throwing for 2,481 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Over his career, Tim passed for 3.360 yards and 27 touchdowns, ranking among UMass’s all-time leaders in several categories.
He majored in hospitality and tourism management at UMass.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ryan met his wife, Christian Ourania Spirou, whom he calls Nina, when they played on the same tee-ball team when she was seven and he was six. They share three children: RJ, Grace, and Nia Day.
- Since becoming head coach at Ohio State, Day and his wife have chosen to partner with an organization focused on removing stigmas related to mental health called On Our Sleeves, a movement begun at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
- Ryan attended the University of New Hampshire in Durham, where he was a quarterback and linebacker for the Wildcats from 1998 to 2001 before beginning his coaching career in 2002.
