Coaches of Records: 13 with 300+ Wins; 21 with .700+ Win Pct.
10/25/2024 11:15:00 AM | General
Head-to-head competition only; Day, Dorenkott, Muzerall, Ryan, Schaub, Tucker & Walker-Hock on list(s)
COLUMBUS, Ohio – When Lori Walker-Hock was on the sidelines during her women's soccer team's 3-0 victory over Maryland Oct. 4, she was there merely a day removed from having her appendix removed. She had good reason to want to be there.
The win kept her nationally ranked Buckeyes unbeaten in the Big Ten Conference. It probably could have been secured with her watching on a B1G+ stream from the comfort of her home, but on a personal note, it was Walker-Hock's 300th victory as an Ohio State coach. And she wanted to be there, as she should.
Not many have reached 300 victories in head-to-head competition sports at Ohio State, Walker-Hock becoming just the 13th. So it was a big night. It was a historical night. And it was a night Walker-Hock was happy to witness in person.
The 300+ Wins Gang
Bob Todd, baseball coach for 23 years from 1988-2010, has the most wins among Ohio State coaches all-time, 901, but lurking is Ty Tucker, who enters the 2025 spring dual match season with 719 victories in 25 seasons as coach and it's not a stretch to write he's within striking distance. His teams average over 28 wins per season.
Only three other Ohio State coaches have coached their teams to 500 wins: Pete Hanson, with 707 victories as men's volleyball coach from 1985-2019; Linda Kalafatis, with 538 softball victories from 1997-2012; and Jim Stone, women's volleyball coach from 1982-2007, whose teams won 531 times.
Ohio State Coaching Victories
(300-plus wins)
1. 901 – Bob Todd, Baseball (1988-2010)
2. 719 – Ty Tucker, Men's Tennis (2000-current)
3. 707 – Pete Hanson, Men's Volleyball (1985-2019)
4. 538 – Linda Kalafatis, Softball (1997-2012)
5. 531 – Jim Stone, Women's Volleyball (1982-2007)
6. 479 – Marty Karow, Baseball (1951-75)
7. 431 – John Daly, Men's Tennis (1972-99)
8. 367 – Kelly Kovach Schoenly, Softball (2013-24)
9. 346 – Greg Beals, Baseball (2011-21)
10. 337 – Thad Matta, Men's Basketball (2005-17)
11. 328 – Jerry Welsh, Men's Hockey (1976-95)
12. 310 – Dick Finn, Baseball (1976-87)
13. 301 – Lori Walker-Hock, Women's Soccer (1997-current)
Some additional notes on a few current Ohio State head coaches:
§ Women's tennis coach Melissa Schaub is in line to become the 14th Ohio State coach to reach 300 victories. She'll enter the dual match season this spring with 240 victories.
§ Wrestling coach Tom Ryan will enter this dual match season with 213 victories.
§ Both hockey coaches hit 200 wins this month, with each milestone coming against an alma mater. Women's hockey coach Nadine Muzerall won her 200th game against Minnesota at the OSU Ice Arena Oct. 11, and men's hockey coach Steve Rohlik won his 200th last Saturday on the road against his alma mater, Wisconsin.
§ Women's basketball coach Kevin McGuff is just two wins away from his 200th victory at Ohio State.
Tucker, Day and Dorenkott: 3-4-6 in Winning Pct.
Men's gymnastics coach Peter Kormann, whose teams won 93 pct. of their dual meet competitions (67-5), leads the way in head-to-head winning percentage among head coaches with at least five years coaching experience at Ohio State. Urban Meyer, who guided the football team to 83 victories against just nine defeats in seven seasons, also had a winning percentage above 90 pct. with his .902 percentage.
Right behind Meyer are two heavyweights in their professions going strong: men's tennis coach Ty Tucker and football coach Ryan Day. Tucker's teams have won 87.5 percent of their matches (719-103); Day's teams have won 87.1 percent of their games at 61-9.
Four current Ohio State coaches join Tucker and Day with winning percentages above .700: Bill Dorenkott, director of men's and women's swimming and diving; wrestling coach Tom Ryan; women's tennis coach Melissa Schaub; and women's hockey coach Nadine Muzerall.
Ohio State Coaches: .700+ Winning Pct.
(Head-to-head competition with at least 5 seasons as head coach)
1. .930 – Peter Kormann, Men's Gymnastics (1989-97; 67-5)
2. .902 – Urban Meyer, Football (2012-18; 83-9)
3. .875 – Ty Tucker, Men's Tennis (2000-current; 719-103)
4. .871 – Ryan Day, Football (2019-current; 61-9)
5. .857 – Bill Wadley, Men's Swimming (1990-2017; 253-42)
6. .8216 – Bill Dorenkott, Women's and Men's Swimming (2008-current; 152-33)
7. .8211 – Mike Peppe, Men's Swimming (1931-63; 179-39)
8. .817 – Jim Tressel, Football (2001-10; 94-21)
9. .804 – Mike Willson, Men's Gymnastics (1978-88; 140-34)
10. .773 – Jim Foster, Women's Basketball (2003-13; 279-82)
11. .761 – Woody Hayes, Football (1951-78; 205-61-10)
12. .758 – Tom Ryan, Wrestling (2007-24; 213-68)
13. .755 – Earle Bruce, Football (1979-87; 81-26-1)
14. .748 – Tara Vanderveer, Women's Basketball (1980-85; 110-37)
15. .747 – Melissa Schaub, Women's Tennis (2013-current; 240-81)
16. .739 – Debbie Wilson, Women's Basketball (1972-80; 157-58)
17. .737 – Phyllis Bailey, Women's Basketball (28-10; 1965-70)
18. .733 – Thad Matta, Men's Basketball (2005-17; 337-123)
19. .715 – John Cooper, Football (1988-2000; 111-43-4)
20. .713 – Nadine Muzerall, Women's Hockey (2016-current; 202-75-21)
21. .705 – Francis A. Schmidt, Football (1934-40; 39-16-1)
