Youth Inc. with Greg Olsen
Episode: Ryan Day on Building Culture, Ohio State Football & Choosing the Right Path
Date: August 26, 2025
Host: Greg Olsen
Overview
In this conversation-packed episode, Greg Olsen sits down with Ryan Day, head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes and reigning national champion, for a deep exploration of what it means to build a championship culture both on and off the football field. The discussion delves into leadership, accountability, navigating tough times, identifying talent, recruiting, and the ever-evolving role of sports parents—all viewed through the lens of youth and college athletics. The dialogue is rich with anecdotes, practical wisdom, and heartfelt reflection on balancing life as a top-tier coach and a parent.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. What “Culture” Really Means at Ohio State
- Setting Expectations from Day One:
- Culture begins with clear upfront agreements and expectations for all team members.
- “When you're coming into our culture, here are the expectations. It sets the bar...when there's a deviation from that, it's easy to reconnect everyone.”
— Ryan Day [01:30]
- 10-80-10 Principle:
- Uses the bell curve approach: 10% elite, 80% middle, 10% disinterested/defiant.
- Focus is on elevating the middle 80% to the elite, rather than just concentrating on the bottom.
- Leadership and accountability structures (leadership committees, captains) give players ownership of the culture.
- Players decide penalties and expectations, which increases accountability and buy-in. "They’re not moaning...they're like, hey, we agreed to this..."
— Ryan Day [04:32]
- Definition of Culture During Adversity:
- “Culture is who you are when things are at their worst.”
— Greg Olsen [05:21] - Day echoes that adversity reveals culture’s true strength.
- “Culture is who you are when things are at their worst.”
2. Building Trust & Navigating Adversity
- Pillars of Trust (Character, Connection, Competence, Consistency):
- Character: Who you are, especially in tough moments.
- Connection: Players must feel genuinely cared for by coaches.
- Competence: Coaches must truly know their stuff; players won’t follow otherwise.
- Consistency: These values must be lived daily, not just preached.
- “If you build enough trust in your program, when you go through those difficult moments, you can bring everyone together, put a plan together, identify what the problems are, get them fixed, and then move forward.”
— Ryan Day [08:56]
- Foundations Laid in Advance:
- Trying to instill culture during crises is too late; it’s years in the making.
- “You're not going to put that together right before a storm or right after a storm—that's built years in advance.”
— Ryan Day [06:16]
3. The Real Role of Coaching: It’s Not Just X’s and O’s
-
Coaching as Teaching and Relationship-Building:
- “You teach. Sometimes I want to even say to our coaches, slow down. Just talk to this young man...What is he seeing? What is he thinking?”
— Ryan Day [10:26] - Emphasis on understanding effort and focus as non-negotiables, but also nurturing process-driven growth for athletes.
- Use of the book Chop Wood, Carry Water to reinforce process over results.
- “It's about the process. Are we actually getting better at the skills that we need to move on and grow from?”
— Ryan Day [13:11]
- “You teach. Sometimes I want to even say to our coaches, slow down. Just talk to this young man...What is he seeing? What is he thinking?”
-
Parent Pressure in Youth Sports:
- Observations on parents who over-emphasize winning at young ages, rather than development:
"I watch parents who are screaming and yelling and care if a team wins a fifth grade basketball game—like, that's not it."
— Ryan Day [13:15]
- Observations on parents who over-emphasize winning at young ages, rather than development:
4. Motivation, The “Burn,” and Passion
- Not Everyone Is Wired the Same:
- Identifying athletes who have the intrinsic motivation (“burn”) to compete and improve.
- “Not everybody has the same burn as the other. Sometimes parents want it more than the kids.”
— Ryan Day [14:07]
5. Talent Identification: Beyond the Measurables
- Three Main Factors: Talent, Discipline, Skill
- Talent: God-given (size, speed, raw physical gifts)—non-negotiable.
- Discipline: Work ethic, focus, resilience—entirely controllable.
- Skill: Position-specific abilities built through practice.
- “We look for guys who are talented. But then there’s what we control—work ethic, focus, belief in yourself, resilience.”
— Ryan Day [20:51] - Importance of blending these types—some “genetic lottery winners,” some role players with unshakable discipline and skill.
- "Based on our culture, we're going to take some guys who are talented...but we’re not going to have too many of them because they'll kill your culture.”
— Ryan Day [21:44]
6. Recruiting Families: What Makes a Good Sports Parent?
- Family Core Values, Not Just Athlete’s Resume
- Coaches appreciate when families express values of hard work, accountability, and commitment over entitlement.
- “When you meet a family and they have core values that they believe in...like, we're coming in here, coach, and we're not looking to transfer...he's going to have to earn everything he gets.”
— Ryan Day [24:51] - Parents who enable excuses or offer escape hatches threaten an athlete’s long-term growth.
7. Wisdom for Coaches Climbing the Ladder
- Longevity vs. Immediate Success
- "When you're a first-time head coach...you don't necessarily get the benefit of the doubt until you win...But you can't all of a sudden start changing what you believe in.”
— Ryan Day [27:29] - Making “long-term decisions” is key to sustaining a strong program.
- Challenges of balancing immediate results vs. building foundations.
- "When you're a first-time head coach...you don't necessarily get the benefit of the doubt until you win...But you can't all of a sudden start changing what you believe in.”
8. The Coach as Parent: Navigating the Dual Role
-
Personal Perspective Shift with Son in Recruiting:
- Having a son in the recruiting process reminded Day that “it’s all about people.”
- “I've raised my son to a certain point—when I hand him over to another program, it has to be the right fit for what he wants.”
— Ryan Day [33:33] - The value of “letting go,” even while advocating for your child.
-
Family Involvement in Coaching Life:
- Having kids around the program breaks down barriers, shows coaches as people.
- “The more your kids and your family can be involved...it just makes it so much more enjoyable. The players like to see you as a dad, they like to see you as a husband.”
— Ryan Day [35:24]
9. Respecting Fellow Coaches as a Parent
- Who Would Coach Day Trust with His Son?
- Praises Clemson’s Dabo Swinney for his perspective, integrity, and holistic treatment of players.
- “He took RJ and I around the whole facility...he’s the one that comes to mind...treats those guys in the building like they’re his sons.”
— Ryan Day [37:54]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Identifying and Building Culture:
“Culture is really just the behavior that's in your building.”
— Ryan Day [02:58]
On Trust:
"When we go through tough times, that's when people reveal their character the most. So that's what we have to be at our strongest."
— Ryan Day [07:35]
On Process Over Results:
“When you're focusing on that process, when you fail, it's a good thing. Like, how do you grow? You grow by failing.”
— Ryan Day [11:58]
On Parental Involvement:
“Sometimes parents want it more than kids. Like, they have to find their love and their passion and then they'll own it.”
— Ryan Day [15:09]
On Making Hard Choices as a Parent and Coach:
“Somewhere along the line, you have to advocate for your children, but there's also crossing the line. You have to let them go and figure stuff out on their own.”
— Ryan Day [33:22]
On Other Coaches He’d Trust His Son With:
“He...spends time, you know, talks about his family, talks about his kids...treats those guys in the building like they're his sons.”
— Ryan Day on Dabo Swinney [37:54]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:50 — Introduction to culture-building at Ohio State
- 03:49 — Leadership committees and player-led accountability
- 05:21 — Discussion on true culture during adversity
- 06:30 — The foundation of trust and culture pre-adversity
- 10:24 — The real role of the coach: teaching, not just strategizing
- 13:15 — Thoughts on parental involvement in youth sports and process focus
- 14:07 — Discussion about intrinsic motivation (“the burn”)
- 20:03 — Identifying talent: talent versus discipline versus skill
- 24:51 — What Day looks for in families and parents when recruiting
- 27:29 — Philosophy differences when building a new program vs. established one
- 33:22 — Being a coach and a parent, and letting children chart their path
- 37:32 — Coaches Day respects as both coach and parent: Dabo Swinney
Tone & Style
The conversation is candid, unscripted, and personal—Ryan Day balances practical “coach speak” with genuine reflections as both a leader and a father. Greg Olsen emphasizes shared experiences from his own playing and parenting background, keeping the tone relatable and open for listeners in all walks of youth sports.
Conclusion
This episode is a masterclass in leadership, culture, and accountability on and off the field—and a reminder that the most successful programs are built on trust, process, and shared values, not just physical talent or flashy playbooks. For coaches, parents, and young athletes alike, Ryan Day’s insights offer a blend of wisdom earned at college football’s highest level and the humility of a dad navigating the same journey as so many families tuning in.