January 11, 2021

Frye is a 15-year collegiate coaching veteran who has spent the last four seasons on the staff at UCLA

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Justin Frye, offensive line coach the past four seasons at UCLA and a 15-year collegiate coaching veteran, has been hired by Ohio State head coach Ryan Day as the Buckeyes’ new associate head coach for offense/offensive line coach. Frye, an Elwood, Ind., native who graduated from Indiana University in 2006, was also the Bruins’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons.

UCLA has had one of the top rushing attacks the past two seasons in the FBS. In 2021, the Bruins ranked 14th nationally with an average of 215.1 rushing yards per game and in 2020 they averaged 230.6 yards per game to rank 12th nationally. Those two seasons averaging more than 200 yards per game rushing represented only the fourth and fifth such seasons for UCLA since 1990.   

Additionally in 2021, UCLA led the Pac-12 in scoring (36.5 ppg; 12th nationally) and was second in total offense with an average of 441.2 yards per game (30th). The 2020 campaign featured the Bruins’ highest rushing yards per carry average – 5.1 ypg – in 45 years, or since the 1976 season. 

“I am thrilled to welcome Justin, his wife, Lauren, and their family to Ohio State and the football program,” Day said. “Justin and I have worked on the same staffs together and I’ve seen first-hand how good he is at developing his players as well as building personal connections with them. I believe he’ll do great things here to enhance his room and our offense as a whole.” 

Day and Frye worked two seasons at Boston College, 2013 and 2014. From 2013-17, with Day as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Frye served as the run game coordinator/offensive line coach. While at BC, the Eagles appeared in four bowl games in his five seasons and Frye helped structure and guide an offensive line that produced a Heisman Trophy finalist and the Atlantic Coast Conference’s first Doak Walker Award recipient in Andre Williams. In 2013, Williams became the 16th player in FBS history to rush for over 2,000 yards in the regular season and he placed fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

Day and Frye also worked the 2011 season together at Temple University, with Day offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach and Frye coaching the offensive line. Frye coached at Temple during the 2012 season, as well. During his two seasons on North Broad Street he guided a fine offensive line, including one that blocked for the top rushing offense in the Big East as the Owls totaled 201.2 rushing yards per game (31st in NCAA) in 2012.

In 2009 and 2010, Frye was a graduate assistant coach working with the offensive line at the University of Florida. During this time Florida featured future NFL offensive line draft picks Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, Marcus Gilbert and Maurice Hurt.

Frye embarked on his coaching career at his alma mater, Indiana University, as an offensive graduate assistant in 2007-08 where he worked with the offensive line and the tight ends. Indiana played in the 2007 Insight Bowl against Oklahoma State. As a player, Frye lined up along the offensive line for Indiana in the 2002-06 seasons.

Frye earned his degree from Indiana in sports communications and broadcasting. He and Lauren, formerly Lauren Torpey from Mentor, Ohio, have four children: Kevin, Zoe, Max and Welles.

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COURTESY OSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS