Ash hired as co-D coordinator/safeties at OSU

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has filled the last of two vacancies on his coaching staff with the hiring of Chris Ash as the team's co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach.

The 40-year-old Ash was coordinator and secondary coach at Arkansas last season, filling the same role the previous two years at Wisconsin, also under Bret Bielema.

Ash replaces Everett Withers, who left after the season to become head coach at James Madison. Ash, a Drake graduate, will share coordinator duties with holdover Luke Fickell.

An email issued by Ohio State did not specify who will make defensive calls for the Buckeyes, who won 24 games in a row before losing in the Big Ten title game to Michigan State and the Orange Bowl to Clemson.